Medicover
What is tooth enamel?
Tooth enamel is the hardest tissue in the human body. It is approximately two millimetres thick and made mostly of inorganic components (98%) such as calcium phosphate. That is why it is so hard. Tooth enamel is a tissue that does not regenerate by itself.
The main task of tooth enamel is to protect teeth against caries by effectively protecting the deeper layers of teeth against:
- mechanical abrasion when biting and chewing food,
- bacteria,
- chemical factors (e.g. acids) and thermal factors (e.g. very hot or cold drinks),
Despite the fact that it is the hardest tissue, it is continuously exposed to damage. Damaged or weakened tooth enamel increases vulnerability of teeth to decay. This may also be related to hypersensitivity, i.e. a pain reaction to contact with hot, cold or acidic food, or sometimes even to being touched by a toothbrush or food. What can cause such symptoms?
What makes tooth enamel weak?
Every day our tooth enamel is exposed to factors that make it weaker and lead to damage. One of the main causes is improper eating habits. What we drink and eat and how we do it has a huge impact on dental health. Teeth’s biggest enemies are sugars and acids in the food we eat.
Enamel erosion is also caused by:
- improper (too strong) brushing of teeth with an inadequate (hard-bristled) toothbrush,
- the dental plaque, i.e. bacteria and acids that are produced by bacteria that gradually destroy tooth enamel,
- brushing teeth immediately after eating food that contains acids (e.g. fruit juices, fruit, coffee or alcohol),
- gastroesophageal reflux disease (when the stomach contents rise up into the oral cavity) or frequent vomiting (e.g. in people suffering from bulimia),
- bruxism, i.e. teeth grinding that leads to excessive enamel abrasion.
What food should we avoid?
No food brings immediate damage to the teeth. However, improper selection of food products, as well as the frequency of eating and the texture of food or improper dental hygiene may affect the condition of the oral cavity (and the tooth enamel in particular).
Consequently, it makes sense to pay attention to the products we eat and their quantities. If you want to protect your tooth enamel, you need to avoid:
- sweetened beverages, including fruit beverages, carbonated drinks or energy drinks: they are a source of large quantities of sugar and acids that additionally increase enamel erosion. Carbohydrates (sugars) are food for bacteria. Eating them increases acidity of the dental plaque (lowers the pH) and increases demineralisation of tooth enamel;
- acidic products, e.g. citrus fruit, (acidic) soluble dietary supplements or preserves: they have a low pH and increase acidity in the oral cavity, which favours demineralisation of tooth enamel;
- honey and sweets as the source of sugar that is excellent food for bacteria;
- alcohol: it decreases the pH in the oral cavity, which means it can increase enamel demineralisation;
- products that are ‘sticky’ and remain in the oral cavity for a long time, e.g. dried or candied fruit, crisps, rusks or sweet biscuits; they easily stick to the teeth, penetrate spaces between teeth, are difficult to remove and at the same time are a source of sugar that is excellent food for bacteria.
It is recommended to reduce the consumption of food that accelerates tooth enamel erosion. If you like such food products very much, make sure to eat sweet and acidic products during the main meals and do not forget about proper oral hygiene.
Also remember that regular and proper oral hygiene is just as important as regular visits to the dentist, including preventive procedures.
Signs of erosion
Long-term operation of factors increasing the risk of caries makes the enamel brittle and vulnerable to damage (due to demineralisation). The main signs include:
- teeth hypersensitivity when eating cold, hot or acidic products,
- yellowish tooth colour that is the result of enamel dilution,
- irregular teeth edges,
- cracks and chippings,
- increased risk of caries.
The changes are first visible under the microscope and – at a later stage – to the naked eye. In the first stage, there is erosion damage that is difficult to detect. At the next stage, the tooth enamel becomes more porous and rounded depressions appear on teeth surface. At a later stage, the lesion starts to cover a major part of the tooth surface and is accompanied by the appearance of cracks. Aggravation of the lesion may even cause tooth necrosis (i.e. pulp gangrene or decay).
How to neutralise acidic environment in the oral cavity?
You do not have to give up all your favourite foods that affect the condition of tooth enamel. To minimise the risk of caries and damage to the enamel, it is enough to stick to several simple rules:
- decrease the frequency of eating acidic food and beverages;
- try to eat food that is neutral for your teeth together with acidic products. Products with alkaline pH include still water, milk, cheese, grains, nuts, plain yoghurt, potatoes and eggs;
- eliminate sweetened beverages from your diet – this includes carbonated and energy drinks;
- chew sugar-free gum after meals: it increases production of saliva that contains antibacterial substances and helps to neutralise the pH in the oral cavity;
- use beneficial sugar alternatives, in particular xylitol that is not metabolised by the caries-producing bacteria and can help protect your teeth against caries;
- do not have any snacks between meals;
- take care of proper oral hygiene: do not brush your teeth directly after eating acidic food; use an adequate soft-bristled toothbrush and proper toothpastes; rinse your oral cavity after eating;
- when you notice teeth hypersensitivity, use products designed for sensitive teeth (toothpastes, mouthwashes and gels).
If the enamel erosion is caused by a condition such as gastroesophageal reflux or bruxism, it is worth consulting a doctor to start treating the underlying disease and get to know how to correctly take care of your teeth.
It is also worth seeing a dentist as he or she can carry out a procedure to strengthen tooth enamel with special products containing fluorine. Fluorine reinforces tooth enamel and makes it resistant to caries-generating factors.
