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8 little known facts about Tooth Erosion

Tooth Erosion Brittle
In this video Dr. Chirag Chamria discusses right from the basics including the functions of the toothbrush, which one is the right one to use, how to correctly use the toothbrush in the most effective way.

What is tooth enamel erosion?

Enamel is the thin covering of the tooth surface. This shell is the hardest tissue in the human body. Enamel covers the crown which is the part of the tooth that’s visible outside of the gums. Coffee, tea, cola, red wine, fruit juices, and cigarettes etc. can cause erosion to enamel. Regular visits to your dentist for routine cleaning and polishing; which can help remove surface stains and keep your teeth healthy.

teeth whitening
Having Tooth Erosion? Know More.

What does tooth enamel do?

Enamel helps protect your teeth from daily use such as chewing, biting, crunching, and grinding. Although enamel is a hard protector of teeth, it can chip and crack. Enamel also insulates the teeth from potentially painful temperatures and chemicals. When it erodes, you may notice that you react more to hot or cold foods, drinks, and sweets, since they can get through holes in your enamel to the nerves inside.

tooth erosion due to french fries

What is tooth erosion?

Dental erosion is the loss of the surface of your teeth due to the acids in food we eat or drink, or acids coming up from the stomach. These acids can dissolve the crystals that make the teeth; leading to tooth surface loss.

The surfaces are smooth, hard, and polished. Erosion generally affects a group of teeth. In the early stages, it may be confined to the enamel, but it generally extends to involve the underlying dentin as well as the cementum.

Symptoms of Tooth Erosion that causes stain, wear, and tear:

  • Dental stains: These are pigmented deposits on the teeth.
  • Hypersensitivity: Enamel erosion can cause symptoms like tooth stains and sensitivity. 
  • Tooth Mobility: Due to tooth erosion, you may have slight physiological mobility of teeth.
  • Tooth Fracture: Erosion leads to loss of enamel and dentin, thus reducing the width of the tooth.

Enamel erosion is a growing concern in clinical practice today, with 46% of young adults already showing signs of enamel erosion. Enamel erosion is a form of tooth wear caused by acid weakening the surface of tooth enamel.

  • Discoloration: As the enamel erodes, it leads to exposure of dentin which makes teeth appear yellow.
  • Cracks and Chips: Erosion causes roughened and irregular tooth surfaces.
  • Dry mouth: Saliva helps prevent tooth decay by washing away bacteria and leftover food in your mouth.
  • Stress Medicines: Things in your environment (friction, wear and tear, stress, and corrosion)

Treatment for Tooth Erosion:

  • Firstly, avoid acidic beverages, sodas, and citric juices. Furthermore, reduce the intake of acidic drinks in between meals. Inculcate healthy eating habits and a well-balanced diet. If acidic beverages are consumed more one should rinse the mouth with water.
  • Secondly, consult your dentist for the right brushing technique. One should not use very hard-bristled toothbrush and abrasive toothpaste. Vertical and circular tooth brushing techniques help reduce tooth erosion to a great extent.
  • As tooth erosion causes sensitivity, restoring the same would ease off the sensitivity. Furthermore, consult your dentist for primary restorations with light-cure fillings or tooth-coloured fillings. In addition, in case of severe erosion, your dentist may advise for root canal treatment and crown prosthesis.
  • Fourthly, in cases of clenching of teeth, the dentist would advise fabrication of flexible translucent trays called night guards. These night guards are specially designed for individual patients depending upon the severity of the tooth loss. In addition, these night guards are designed to be worn by the patient during sleep at
    night.
  • Furthermore, one should consult a physician in cases of severe acid reflux. Antacids could be prescribed by the physician for the same.
  • Drink lots of fluoridated water.

Can tooth enamel grow back?

Enamel is very tough. However, it doesn’t have any living cells and is unable to repair itself if it undergoes physical or chemical damage. This means that enamel erosion isn’t reversible, and the enamel won’t grow back. However, enamel erosion takes a long time. So even if you already have some enamel erosion, you can prevent it from becoming worse.

Tooth enamel is the hardest tissue in the body. The problem is, that it’s not living tissue, so it can’t be naturally regenerated. Unfortunately, you can’t regrow it artificially, either — not even with those special toothpastes.

Stained Teeth
Stained Teeth Crowns

Conclusion

Royal Dental Clinics has heavily invested in the latest dental technologies from across the globe. Above all, this aids in understanding patient dental concerns on a platform that gives comprehensive measures to help diagnose the best solution possible. Above all as per Dr Chirag Chamria, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon at Royal Dental Clinics,

For us, excellence is our constant pursuit. Patients want immediate results & are no longer ready to hold back for days to restore their smile. We strive for nothing less than the mastery of this medium in which we have chosen to craft.”

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1 Comment

  1. Regular visits to your dentist for routine cleaning and polishing; which can help remove surface stains and keep your teeth healthy. That’s true.

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