At our Turlock dental practice, our treatment philosophy is "tooth conservation first." What this means is that we approach every one of our dental appointments, whether it's a simple cleaning or a complex dental restoration, by trying to preserve your healthy teeth. Rather than going straight to extraction, or grinding your healthy tooth structure down to place a crown, my wife and I will do what we can to try and save the tooth and as much of its natural composition as possible. We believe this is the healthiest way to approach oral health, and while we haven't been able to save all of our patients' teeth throughout the years, we have, on many occasions, kept them from having to undergo more expensive procedures like getting a fixed bridge or dental implants.
Part of this treatment philosophy is doing what we can to prevent you from ever having to be in a situation where you might lose a tooth to decay, gum disease, or some other oral health complication. We do as much as we can when you see us for your appointments, but that's one of the reasons we started our blog; we wanted another way to help you prevent serious oral health problems. In this post, Dr. Anne Thompson and I will walk you through some of the facts about your tooth enamel:
Enamel: Your Tooth's First Line of Defense
The enamel on your tooth is one of the hardest substances on Earth. In fact, it is only second to diamonds. It is the hardest tissue your body will produce. Enamel is even harder than your bones.
Enamel makes up the outer layer of your tooth and protects the part of it exposed above the gum line. As a substance, it contains the highest concentration of minerals in the body. Although this high concentration of minerals makes it an excellent protector for your teeth, it also makes it highly susceptible to demineralization, which is what leads to cavities.
Causes of Enamel Loss
Erosion of your tooth enamel naturally occurs over the years when you eat. What speeds up this process, though, and leads to early tooth decay is what you're eating. Foods that are high in sugar and acid have a tendency to break down the tooth enamel. Avoid energy drinks and soda, and drink fruit juices in moderation. You've probably heard it a hundred times from your mother, but lay off the candy!
If you can, try and regularly chew a stick of sugar free gum. This will help raise the pH level in your mouth and increase saliva flow, which dilutes and neutralizes some acids.
Keep Your Gums Healthy Too!
The enamel on your tooth only covers the part above your gums---what most people call the crown. As you age, your gums will naturally recede. If you don't brush and floss regularly, your gums will also recede and become more prone to gum disease. Without a layer of enamel, this part of your tooth becomes especially susceptible to decay and infection.
Keeping your teeth protected with a solid layer of enamel is important when it comes to having pleasant visits to the dentist. You may think we like filling cavities because we're dentists, but believe me, we love complimenting your healthy teeth way more. Those visits are often quite pleasant for both of us.
We sincerely appreciate your interest in our blog and we hope this information is useful. If you know anyone that might benefit from these oral health tips, please feel free to share our post!