Try non-acidic foods: Certain foods are good for your enamel. Many types of fruits and vegetables, dairy products such as milk, and foods or drinks containing fluoride – notably spinach, grapes and black tea – will be useful to naturally restore enamel.
Once tooth enamel is damaged, it cannot be brought back. However, weakened enamel can be restored to some degree by improving its mineral content. Although toothpastes and mouthwashes can never “rebuild” teeth, they can contribute to this remineralization process.
Enamel can repair itself by using minerals from saliva, and fluoride from toothpaste or other sources. But if the tooth decay process continues, more minerals are lost. Over time, the enamel is weakened and destroyed, forming a cavity. A cavity is permanent damage that a dentist has to repair with a filling.
The remineralization process usually takes about three to four months to take effect. However, once you begin to better fortify your enamel, you may start to see stronger teeth, experience less sensitivity, and even reveal a whiter smile.
Is it already too late and hopeless? Good news is that you can still make your teeth look good again. Yes, the enamel won't grow back but the dentist can still best advise you about how to bring back your confident smile. It starts with proper dental assessment and protecting what you still have.
As the enamel continues to erode, your teeth might turn a gray or yellowish color. If your teeth change shape, it's a good indicator that you have enamel damage. Your teeth may begin to appear rounded, develop ridges, and often the gaps between teeth will become more substantial.
It could be the result of an acidic diet, medication side reactions or just vigorous brushing. Dry mouth, low salivary flow, diet high in sugar and starches, bruxism and friction, acid reflux disease, gastrointestinal problems and even genetics could also be blamed for enamel erosion.
If your teeth have already thinned, there are a few treatments that help restore the enamel. Dental bonding, a treatment that involves the application of a composite resin to your teeth, is one option. Veneers are another option for those who are interested.
Many fruits are high in acidity, including lemons, grapefruit, strawberries, grapes, and apples. The high sugar and acid content in soda makes it another huge contributor to enamel decay. Moderately acidic foods include pineapple, oranges, tomatoes, cottage cheese, maple syrup, yogurt, raisins, pickles, and honey.
Translucent-looking teeth indicate that your teeth have lost some of the enamel that covers the surface of the tooth, which can expose underlying dentin. Enamel that has eroded cannot regrow nor can a dentist encourage it to grow back.
Phosphorus plays a critical role in dental health because it can naturally help protect and help rebuild tooth enamel.
While it is possible to strengthen and fortify enamel with substances such as fluoride, it is important to understand that no product can cause lost enamel to “grow back.” Once your tooth's enamel is worn away, it is worn away forever, and can only be restored with synthetic solutions such as veneers.
As the enamel erodes more, your teeth may appear grayish or yellow. Your teeth may begin to appear rounded, develop ridges, and often the gaps between teeth will become more substantial. Eventually, you may notice cracks in the teeth or experience loss of tooth material.
Have you ever noticed any discolorations or defects in your child's tooth? You could be noticing enamel hypoplasia. This condition is a defect that causes a lesser quantity of enamel than normal. It can appear as a white spot, yellow to brown staining, pits, grooves or even thin, chipped or missing parts of enamel.
However, the enamel is also a lot more brittle than both. As such, no matter how hard the enamel is, it can corrode, erode, and wear away over time. Enamel loss is one of the main causes of tooth sensitivity and eventually, dental decay.
It cannot regenerate itself, because it is formed by a layer of cells that are lost after the tooth eruption. Conventional treatment relies on synthetic materials to restore lost enamel that cannot mimic natural enamel.
Dentin does not extend all the way to the edges of the teeth, which means the tips consist only of enamel. For this reason, the biting edges of the teeth may appear bluish white, grey or even clear. When enamel wears away, or if it never forms properly, the teeth can take on a dull, translucent, or waxy appearance.
How Does Coffee Harm Your Teeth? Despite the health benefits, drinking too much coffee can leave a lasting mark on your smile. In fact, research shows it can increase your risk of cavities because it's acidic, which can erode your enamel. As your enamel becomes thinner, it can also lead to tooth sensitivity.
Dents on the Tooth Surface
Referred to by dentists as cupping, these pits or indentations on the tooth surface often occur when acids in the mouth wear away the enamel and dentin.
Surgical tooth extraction is needed when teeth are impacted tooth (has not erupted above the gum line), a tooth is broken below the gum line or must be removed in pieces, or in case where a tooth is so severely decayed to the point that forceps cannot be used to remove the tooth from the socket.
Sensodyne Pronamel toothpaste is the #1 Dentist Recommended Brand for strengthening and protecting enamel. It works hard to re-harden acid-weakened tooth enamel, aiding in the overall remineralization process of your teeth.