Is there any way to repair damaged tooth enamel?

As people get older, almost everyone feels teeth problems or problems. This is quite common and tends to be caused by yourself due to lack of routine or careful maintenance of dental health and hygiene. One of the problems with your teeth that you can experience is damage to the tooth enamel.

Then, what needs to be done when there is damage to tooth enamel? Is there a way to repair or restore damaged tooth enamel?

Factors that can cause tooth enamel to be damaged

Enamel is the outermost layer of teeth and is the strongest (hardest) structure in the human body. In simple terms, the function of tooth enamel is to protect the inside of the teeth from being exposed to the structure, temperature and chemical compounds of the food and drinks consumed.

Despite its strong structure, enamel can still be damaged. Damage can be caused chemically and mechanically.

Chemically

One of the causes of tooth decay is acidic foods and drinks. Acidic substances can arise from food debris that sticks to the teeth and are not cleaned immediately.

In addition, reflux or the increase in stomach acid when digestive problems occur can also cause acidic substances to attack your teeth.

Furthermore, low saliva flow or production can have an impact on your tooth enamel. This happens because saliva is used to help clean acids in the mouth.

Finally, long-term use of medications can affect tooth enamel, such as causing tooth discoloration.

Mechanically

The meaning of mechanical enamel damage is damage that occurs as a result of bad habits that you do yourself. Starting from frequently grinding or grinding your teeth (teeth grinding), until brushing your teeth too hard and using the wrong technique. This habit can damage tooth enamel if done continuously.

It is important to keep the tooth enamel in the best condition. Apart from functioning to protect the inside and tissue of the teeth, damaged enamel cannot be replaced by the body naturally.

Then, is there a way to repair damaged tooth enamel?

As mentioned earlier, damaged tooth enamel cannot be repaired naturally or by your body. Therefore, it is very important to always maintain healthy teeth and mouth.

However, when the damage has occurred, the only treatment is with the help of a dentist. In the condition that the damage is still relatively mild, doctors will usually recommend dental fillings.

How do you keep the tooth enamel structure intact?

Basically, ensuring that oral hygiene is kept clean is the main key in maintaining healthy teeth. More specifically, here are things you can do to prevent damage to tooth enamel:

• Routinely go to the dentist to get fluoride (a mineral) topically (directly) to protect the enamel. The use of topical fluoride should be done by dentists, because if the dosage and duration are not correct, it will cause fluorosis (white lines or spots) on the teeth which can ruin the appearance.
• Brush your teeth at least twice a day in the morning and at night using toothpastefluoride, brush your teeth with soft bristles, and with the correct brushing technique.
• Flossing (using dental floss) and rinse your mouth with mouthwash to clean between your teeth thoroughly.
• Consume lots of water to neutralize acidic conditions in the mouth.
• Reduce foods that are high in sugar and acid. And use a straw when consuming acidic drinks to minimize acid contact on the teeth.
• In sufferers bruxism (habit grinding teeth) can consult a dentist for manufacture and use mouthguard (mouth and teeth protection) at night when sleeping.

One of the reasons why you need to maintain the strength of the enamel is because the coating of the teeth does not return to normal after damage occurs. The important role of enamel in protecting teeth cannot be overlooked, so you need to ensure that you always maintain the cleanliness and health of your teeth and mouth every day.

Also Read: