Saint Louis Dentist Reviews The Properties Of Dental Enamel
Your dental enamel has a very important job in your smile; dental enamel is the first line of defense for your teeth, it protects your teeth from the elements. One of the best things that you can do for the long-term health of your smile is to maintain healthy dental enamel. With that in mind, our Saint Louis dentists are here with some information about how enamel functions. We hope that this helps you get a better idea of how you might care for your teeth day to day.
As you already know, dental enamel is the outermost covering of a tooth. When you look in the mirror and smile, it’s dental enamel that you see! Healthy and thick dental enamel generally appears as some shade of white, and it is shiny.
Dental enamel is the sturdiest and least porous layer of your tooth (the layers below the enamel are called the dentin and dental pulp). There are no nerves in the dental enamel, which explains why we are able to speak and chew comfortably.
However, dental enamel is not indestructible, and a number of types of daily wear and tear can cause enamel to weaken and deteriorate.
Acidic substances demineralize dental enamel and leave your enamel susceptible to thinning
Conditions like bruxism (chronic dental grinding) put an immense amount of pressure on enamel, and cause micro cracks and chips in the tooth’s surface
When plaque and tartar are allowed to accumulate on your smile, the bacteria within these substances bores through the enamel into the softer dental layers
If your enamel starts to thin, or if you develop holes in your enamel, you’ll likely to start to notice dental sensitivity and pain; this occurs because foreign substances are now able to go through the enamel and into the dentin/dental pulp. Additionally, your smile may start to look dull and yellowish. You’ll also be at a greater risk of developing dental cavities.
Our Saint Louis dentists helps patients build oral hygiene routines that protect dental enamel from premature wear and tear. Please feel free to call our office to learn more and to schedule your consultation!