Much
like we rely on our skin for protection of our internal organs, our teeth rely
on enamel; however, unlike our skin, tooth enamel cannot re-grow or heal
itself. As we drink, chew and live our daily lives, the erosion of tooth enamel
is inevitable, however it is controllable.
There
are four general explanations for enamel erosion. The first reason is
attrition, tooth-to-tooth friction, which is commonly related to bruxism The second means of erosion is abrasion which
can happen from rough teeth brushing, biting hard objects, and tobacco use. The
third is abfraction, which is any crack from flexing or bending of the tooth.
The last erosion mechanism is corrosion, which is the result of acidic objects
hitting the tooth's surface.
In some
cases, such as genetics or acid reflux disease, enamel erosion can be out of
our control. But there are certain habits we can develop to prevent the rate of
enamel erosion over our life time. Try to keep soda consumption to a
minimum, stay away from high sugar and
starch foods, limit acidic fruit intake and prevent any of the environmental
factors as mentioned previously. Remember, maintenance is key to a healthy,
beautiful smile!
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