Can Tooth Enamel Last the Rest of Your Life?

Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in your body, but it faces all kinds of threats inside your mouth. It’s exposed to incredible stress whenever you change your food, and it routinely endures attacks from bacteria and acids. And yet, it is completely possible for the enamel you were born with to last the rest of your life – especially when you and your dentist in Edison take the necessary steps to protect it. Read on to learn how tooth enamel stays intact for a lifetime as well as what you can do to give it even better protection.

How Tooth Enamel Maintains Itself

Enamel doesn’t contain any living cells, so it can’t heal itself when broken. Despite that, it still has a few ways to ensure its own longevity. One study in the Nature Communications took a closer look at the enamel’s structure. It essentially consists of a number of rods that are made out of hydroxyapatite crystals. Said crystals are oriented in such a way that improves the enamel’s ability to respond to stress. Specifically, they are aligned at small angles (most commonly at 1 degree) that stops cracks from spreading to different crystals. In other words, any damage done to part of the enamel is prevented from spreading at the nanoscale. This is why you can use your teeth to bite and chew every day without fear of them breaking (although you still have to be careful around particularly hard foods).

The Importance of Remineralization

Even though the enamel can’t actively repair itself, that doesn’t mean that it has no way to reverse any damage that occurs. Small bits of enamel are lost every day due to acid attacks and other forms of erosion, but the minerals can be replaced. Saliva washes away harmful substances and neutralizes acids while also supplying the teeth with calcium and phosphate that can be used for remineralization. Fluoride also plays a key role in protecting the teeth from decay.

How You Can Protect Your Enamel

Despite the natural layers of protection your enamel enjoys, you’ll have the best chance of making it last for a lifetime if you’re proactive about your oral health. To keep your enamel safe, be sure to:

• Limit the amount of acidic drinks and foods you consume; this includes citrus fruits and sodas.
• When you do drink something acidic, always use a straw so that the liquid misses the teeth.
• Eat a piece of cheese after a meal to cancel out the acids in your mouth.
• Drink more water during the day if your mouth is dry.

These are just a few precautions you might take; your dentist is sure to have additional ideas for keeping the enamel intact. If you want to keep your natural smile during your later years, start thinking about what you can improve in your daily routine to maintain a healthier, stronger smile.

About the Author

Dr. Hiren H. Shah has been practicing dentistry for well over a decade now and always loves the chance to meet new people and help them enjoy lifelong smiles. He enjoys the fact that dentistry allows him to do something different every day. If you have questions about your oral health or are worried whether you’ve been taking care of your enamel, you can schedule an appointment with Dr. Shah at Signature Smiles through his website or by calling (469) 214-2795.