One of the best things that you can do for the long-term health of your smile is to protect and maintain your dental enamel. Dental enamel is the outermost layer of the tooth, and it is charged with protecting the more vulnerable layers beneath it. Strong and healthy dental enamel is resilient, white, and shiny. When enamel weakens, it can leave you susceptible to developing cavities and cracks/chips.
Our Santa Monica dentists are here to help you understand why dental erosion happens, and how you can take steps to protect your teeth. Keep reading to learn more!
One of the key causes of enamel erosion is chronic bruxism, or dental grinding. Bruxism puts an immense amount of pressure on a patient’s dental enamel; as teeth grind against one another they begin to wear down. If you think that you are suffering from bruxism, talk to your dentist about treatment options, including protective mouth guards that you can wear at night.
Consistent exposure to acidic foods and drinks can also cause your dental enamel to thin. Soft drinks, fruit juices, citrus fruits, wine, and more all contain appreciable amounts of acid. Try to limit the number of acidic things that you consume, and when you do indulge, rinse your mouth promptly in order to minimize the amount of time that acid can sit on your teeth. Make sure, however, that you wait at least twenty to thirty minutes to brush your teeth after you eat/drink something acidic; your dental enamel is actually softer for this period of time, and thus susceptible to erosion from your toothbrush.
If want to learn more about protecting your teeth from erosion and thinning, our Santa Monica dentists are here to help! Give us a call to schedule a personal consultation, and keep in mind that you can always submit a question for our team by using the Contact Us page on our website.