What is tooth enamel?
Tooth enamel is the thin layer that rests on the outside of each tooth. This part of a person’s teeth is the protective tissue that covers the crown of each tooth. It’s invisible so a person can see the tooth color through it unless it’s stained. Products like coffee, tea, soda, red wine, fruit juices, cigarettes are the main cause of stains on tooth enamel. These products are also the main causes of tooth enamel erosion as well. Fortunately, regular visits to Foothill Dental Care in Livermore for routine teeth cleaning and polishing can help remove stains from the surface of teeth and keep the tooth enamel strong.
Teeth cleaning is the removal of dental plaque and tartar to prevent cavities, gingivitis, and gum disease. At Foothill Dental Care in Livermore, we specialize in dental cleaning procedures and frequently perform a variety of them daily, so you can rest assured that yours will be performed by a skilled and experienced medical professional.
What does tooth enamel do?
Tooth enamel is the protective film on the outside of teeth. It helps protect teeth from everyday uses such as chewing, biting, and grinding. Not just that, but tooth enamel also protects teeth from acidic foods and liquids such as lemons, oranges, sugary drinks and snacks, alcohol, and cigarettes. Essentially, tooth enamel is like a bodyguard for your teeth.
Tooth enamel is also the protective coat that helps the teeth withstand cold and hot foods and liquids so they don’t cause pain. Just like teeth, tooth enamel is susceptible to chipping and cracking. Unfortunately, once a tooth and the enamel are broken or chipped, there is no way for it to heal naturally. Even though tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body and may endure significant damage, it is still susceptible to erosion.
What causes tooth enamel erosion?
As resistant as tooth enamel is, it cannot withstand constant combat. Tooth enamel erosion is caused by several factors. Poor dental hygiene will, essentially, cause weaker teeth, which also causes weak tooth enamel as a result. According to a study, “The prevalence of dental erosion in a United States […] sample of adolescents,” conducted by Deery, Wadner, et al. and published by the US National Library of Medicine National Institute of Health, claims that “the prevalence of erosion was 41%” for adolescents in the Unites States (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, 2000). That simple statistic indicates that dental erosion occurs in nearly half of adolescents in the US have some level of tooth enamel erosion.
If you have stained teeth or feel that the foods you are eating may be affecting your tooth enamel, call Foothill Dental Care in Livermore at (925) 961-5484 to schedule an appointment for teeth cleaning today. We can provide a thorough dental examination to ensure strong and sufficient tooth enamel as well.