Properly caring for your dental enamel is crucial if you want to maintain long-term oral health. Dental enamel is already designed to be sturdy and strong, but it certainly isn’t indestructible. That is why our Toluca Lake dentists are here with some tips on how you can care for your dental enamel, and give your smile its best chance of staying healthy and intact.
The first thing to keep in mind is that you need to follow your dentist-recommended daily oral hygiene routine as well as your professional cleaning schedule. Cleaning your smile regularly prevents damaging bacterial plaque and tartar from building up and eating away at your enamel.
Next, consider all of the substances that come into contact with your teeth every day. Foods, drinks, mints, gum, tobacco products: all of these things effect enamel. Specifically, you want to limit the amount of time that sugars and acidic substances are allowed to sit on your teeth. These substances soften, thin, and weaken enamel, leaving it susceptible to damage. Try to get into the habit of rinsing your mouth with water after eating or drinking something sugary/acidic. But, make sure to wait at least 20 to 30 minutes after acid exposure to clean your smile, as you may inadvertently cause enamel erosion.
There are also a number of dental habits that can damage enamel over time. If you suffer from bruxism—chronic dental grinding—talk to your dentist about things that you can do to protect your smile. Bruxism puts an immense amount of pressure on your enamel, and can cause you to develop small cracks and chips in your teeth. If you regularly chew on ice, mints, or hard candies, this can likewise lead to dental damage. Make an effort to cut these harmful habits out of your daily life, and your smile will thank you!
Your dental enamel is the first line of defense for your smile—it protects more vulnerable tooth layers like the dentin and dental pulp. When you take the time to care for your enamel properly, you’re really investing in the future health of your smile. Our Toluca Lake dentists are here to give you any additional information and support hat you may need—give us a call to get started!