Can Tooth Enamel Grow Back?
Enamel is the armor that protects your teeth from acid, sugar, and other foreign substances. Enamel is the hardest material in your body and can handle plenty of wear and tear, but it is a limited resource. Because enamel is made from a dense mineral, once it is gone, it doesn’t grow back – meaning that damage from erosion, chipping, or cracking is permanent.
During your visits to our office, you’ve probably heard Dr. Miranda or Dr. Simonyan talk about the importance of detecting and treating enamel decay. Today, we want to share some tips on preventing enamel erosion so that your teeth stay healthy and strong.
What Causes Enamel Damage?
Over time, acid wears away at your teeth. Generally, this acid comes from your diet, but other factors such as bruxism (grinding your teeth), medications, acid reflux, and genetics can affect your acid production. Sugary drinks combine with your mouth’s bacteria to form acid that erodes your enamel each time you take a sip. Soda is the worst culprit – it’s ten times worse for your tooth’s enamel than fruit juice.
Other factors, like stress, friction, and wear and tear, wear away enamel over time. Even the way you brush your teeth can cause enamel loss – if you brush too vigorously or too often, you wear away the enamel.
What Should You Look For?
If you notice that your teeth have become incredibly sensitive to temperature, you may be experiencing tooth erosion. Other signs, like yellowing teeth, uneven edges, or shiny spots may also indicate that your enamel is damaged. If you notice any of the signs, make an appointment with us as soon as possible.
What Can You Do?
If you think you might be experiencing enamel erosion, there are some steps Dr. Miranda and Dr. Simonyan can take to treat the problem. Texas Dental offers both bonding and crowns to treat enamel erosion, depending on the severity and extent of enamel erosion. For milder cases, we might bond a resin to the damaged tooth. In more serious cases, we will apply a crown to “cap” the damage, allowing you to continue to use your tooth as well as protect against further decay.
Regular exams, good oral hygiene habits, and limiting your sugar intake can all help keep your enamel strong and healthy. During your next appointment, we will check to see if you are experiencing enamel erosion. For questions about enamel erosion, or to schedule your next appointment, call us at (210) 661-4211 (Farm to Market 78 location) or (210) 321-9846 (Bandera Road location). You can also contact us online!
