Standing between oral bacteria and tooth decay is your tooth enamel. This mineralized coating that surrounds teeth acts as a barrier to destructive bacteria that cause cavities and weaken teeth. It’s important to understand dental anatomy to develop an understanding of how to protect tooth enamel (and your teeth) from damage.  Tooth enamel is the strongest substance in your body; in fact, it’s harder than bone. Although enamel is tough and durable, it can be damaged by common habits and lifestyle choices. Exposure to acid and teeth grinding can weaken enamel. Following are some helpful tips for protecting the health of your teeth.

Practice Thorough Oral Hygiene

Proper oral hygiene is an important factor in keeping teeth and gums healthy. When you brush and floss, you disrupt bacteria from colonizing and you remove food particles that serve as fuel to bacteria. Once bacteria feed on sugar compounds, they release acid as a by-product. Acid weakens tooth enamel over time. If you don’t keep your teeth and gums clean, bacteria will colonize and thrive in your mouth. By cleaning your teeth and gums, you can help starve bacteria. Be sure to brush at least twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste and floss every day.

Do Not Grind Your Teeth or Chew on Inedible Objects

Grinding your teeth (bruxism) and chewing on inedible objects is a common way many people deal with stress and emotional upset. Unfortunately, chewing on hard objects or grinding one’s teeth can damage tooth enamel over time. Chewing on hard objects or teeth scraping against each other will ultimately wear down tooth enamel and leave the unprotected structures of teeth vulnerable to harmful bacteria.

Visit the Dentist for Regular Cleanings and Checkups

Even if you practice oral hygiene and avoid sugary or acidic food, you can put your teeth at risk if you forego regular checkups and cleanings at our practice. During visits to our office, our team will look for signs of enamel loss. If caught early on, we can take preventive measures such as administering fluoride treatments or placing dental sealants to protect teeth from permanent damage.

Call our dentist grand prairie office to schedule an appointment today!

Do you have discoloration on your tooth? Are you wondering whether a dark spot on your tooth is purely cosmetic in nature, or is it the sign of an oral health condition like tooth decay? Most of the time, tooth discoloration is caused by external factors like darkly colored foods and drinks that stain teeth. Even though a dark spot on your teeth is likely just a cosmetic issue, it’s still a good idea to visit us for a checkup just to make sure your oral health is in good standing.

How do permanent stains develop?

If the dark spot on your tooth is the result of permanent staining, it likely developed from a common daily habit such as drinking coffee or smoking cigarettes. Teeth are permeable and over time, dark compounds can seep through the enamel layer of teeth and form a permanent stain. This type of staining is called extrinsic tooth discoloration and it is normally addressed with cosmetic treatments, if the patient feels it is necessary. Most permanent stains are treated with professional whitening treatments prescribed by our dentist. Professional whitening can lift away deep stains and lighten teeth about eight to ten shades.

How does decay cause tooth discoloration?

Yellowing or darkening of the tooth can mean that a tooth is damaged from tooth decay. The only way to be sure if discoloration is more than cosmetic is to schedule an oral checkup at our practice. If decay is present, bacteria have eaten through the soft, dentin structure of teeth. As a result of a cavity, the exposed dentin of a tooth can darken. A dark spot on a tooth may also mean that the inside of the tooth is damaged. For instance, dark spots may be an indicator that a tooth is deeply decayed or infected.

If decay is the reason for discoloration, our team will recommend an appropriate restoration. Fillings are used to restore damage done by small cavities while crowns are used to restore an entire tooth. Restorations will protect teeth from further damage as well.

To schedule a checkup or cleaning, call our friendly team at The Dental Place today- dentist grand prairie.