Considering it serves as a protective barrier for your teeth, tooth enamel is often lauded as being one of the strongest substances in the human body. Despite holding this distinction, without proper care, tooth enamel can very easily become damaged and worn down. This can lead to tooth sensitivity, pain, discomfort, decay, gum disease and even oral bacterial infections. Tooth enamel is irreplaceable. Once it’s completely gone, it’s gone for good and can’t be regenerated. Weakened enamel, however, can still be reinforced and restored as long as the proper treatments are administered. Dentists and dental professionals take a lot of time to educate their patients about enamel erosion prevention to reduce the risk of the above mentioned complications.
It’s important to heed their advice so that you can maintain a clean and healthy mouth for the rest of your life.
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How to Prevent Tooth Enamel Erosion
Over the years, a number of tooth enamel erosion prevention methods have been introduced in the field of dentistry. Some are more basic than others. Here’s everything you need to know about how to stop enamel erosion before it starts!
Maintain a Strict Brushing and Flossing Routine
Brushing and flossing your teeth twice and once a day respectively is the best way to maintain the strength of your tooth enamel and overall oral health. Most dentists advise patients to brush their teeth after every meal. Since this isn’t always feasible, it’s best to maintain a consistent routine. Start your day by brushing your teeth in the morning to eradicate residual bacteria that can form overnight and brush and floss your teeth every night to remove bacteria causing food particles before going to bed.
Be Gentle on Your Teeth
The technique you use while brushing your teeth is just as important to preserving your tooth enamel as the frequency with which you brush. If you’re prone to tooth sensitivity or are worried about eroding the enamel on your teeth, consider purchasing a soft bristle tooth brush and use gentle strokes when brushing. Pressing too hard or brushing too vigorously can actually weaken your tooth enamel a lot sooner.
Rinse Your Mouth out after Every Meal
As mentioned, it’s not always possible to brush your teeth after every meal, considering most people are at work or out and about during the day. However, running to the bathroom briefly to rinse out your mouth after every meal or snack is a great way to prevent enamel erosion. A quick rinse can remove excess food particles and other residual components, preventing them from sticking to your teeth, forming bacteria and damaging your enamel. Rinsing your mouth out with water also facilitates proper saliva production and flow which is essential to maintaining a healthy oral cavity.
Avoid Sugary and Acidic Foods and Beverages
Sugar and acid are two of your tooth enamel’s greatest enemies as they create a palpable breeding ground for harmful bacteria to form inside your mouth. Hard candies, citrusy fruit and carbonated beverages should all be avoided as much as possible. If you do consume any of these foods and beverages, then rinse your mouth out or brush your teeth afterward. Wait approximately 30 minutes before brushing your teeth after consuming acidic foods and beverages to avoid further damaging your tooth enamel.
Administer Preventative Dental Care
Take all precautions when it comes to your dental and oral health. The best way to do this is to visit the dentist on a regular basis (usually once every six months) and follow any dental hygiene instructions they give you. Dentists tend to give personalized treatment and dental hygiene advice based on the individual needs of each patient. If your dentist tells you to do something to care for your teeth, then you should listen.
Additionally, visiting the dentist as recommended can help prevent tooth enamel erosion. Dentists have special deep cleaning supplies that you don’t have access to at home. As a result, they can remove hardened plaque, deep-rooted food particles, and bacterial components far more thoroughly than you can at home, even if you’re hyper-vigilant with your dental care routine.
Here are several benefits to visiting the dentist regularly:
- Identify and treat underlying dental conditions
- Provide you with specific oral hygiene tips based on your needs
- Teach you the proper brushing and flossing techniques to enhance your dental hygiene practices
Time Your Dental Hygiene Routine
Most people think that simply brushing and flossing their teeth is enough to maintain a healthy smile. But that may not be enough for everyone. Adding an alcohol-free mouthwash to your routine if recommended for you, is a great way to kill bacteria while also reducing the risk of tooth enamel erosion.
Aside from that, you should also time your dental hygiene routine. As much as you probably want to get on with your day or are eager to climb into bed after a long day at work, it’s important to make sure you’re spending enough time taking care of your oral health.
Most dental professionals recommend that you spend a minimum of two to three minutes brushing your teeth and then another two minutes flossing. If you’re unsure of how to time this properly, then it helps to play a pop song either in your head or on the radio while you go through your routine. Not only will this help you keep your mouth clean, but it’s also a fun way to wake yourself up in the morning.
If you’re wondering how to fix enamel erosion, then your best bet is to consult an experienced dentist.
Princeview Dental Group has been part of the Kingsway community in Etobicoke for well over 25 years now. We take great pride in helping our patients boost their confidence by maintaining and restoring their beautiful smiles. From routine cleanings and checkups to providing expert treatment plans to repair weakened tooth enamel, we can take care of your dental needs. Contact us today to book an appointment!
