When it comes to preventive dentistry, one of the very best things that you can do for your smile is to maintain strong and healthy dental enamel. Not sure what, exactly, that means? Keep reading! Today, our Glendale dentists are talking all about the function and structure of dental enamel.
Dental enamel is the outermost covering of your tooth. Take a look at your smile in the mirror—you’re looking at your dental enamel! Enamel covers other, more sensitive and vulnerable, layers of your tooth, like dentin and dental pulp.
When you think about it, your enamel is put through a lot every day. Everything that you eat and drink affects your enamel, plus your enamel is covered in oral bacteria as plaque and tartar build up on your smile.
The keys to protecting your enamel are:
· Cleaning your teeth as recommended by your dentist to prevent bacteria from wearing away your healthy enamel
· Minimizing acidic foods and drinks in your diet, as acid weakens enamel
· Wearing protective mouth guards when playing contact and extreme sports
· Seeking treatment for chronic dental grinding when necessary
· Drinking plenty of water to help your body produce plenty of saliva (which naturally neutralizes oral bacteria and helps to re-mineralize enamel)
If you start to notice these changes to your dental enamel, talk to your dentist about whether you should take any extra preventive or restorative steps to care for your smile:
· Cracks and chips in your enamel, even small ones (as these can expand and become more serious over time)
· Worn down, blunted dental enamel/bite surfaces
· Gray, brown, or lusterless enamel
· Dark or dirty looking spots on the dental enamel
As always our Glendale dentist is here to provide you with all of the information and support that you need as you care for your smile. Give us a call if you have questions!