Tooth Enamel
Tooth enamel is one of the great materials in nature; it is the hardest substance in the human body, meant to protect your teeth during daily chewing and biting as well as exposure to food and beverages. Though it is strong, enamel is still not all-powerful. It is important to take care of it by maintaining proper oral hygiene and good habits to ensure a healthy lifetime of teeth. In cases where enamel is severely damaged, a dental crown may be recommended to restore strength, function, and appearance.
The outer protection of any tooth is made of tooth enamel. It envelops the visible portion of the tooth, the portion that is above the gum line, and it acts as permanent protection of more sensitive parts of the tooth, such as the dentin and the pulp. Despite being an extremely solid material, enamel tends to wear out over the years, as a result of bacterial, acidic, and mechanical forces. With the loss of enamel, the body becomes unable to replenish it, and thus prevention and protection are essential.
Function
What Does Enamel Do?
Enamel has the primary role of protection. It avoids the physical wear and tear of teeth when one is chewing and protects the inner layers of the tooth against decay and infection. In the absence of enamel, the underlying dentin would be exposed to acids, bacteria and wear that results in tooth sensitivity and tooth cavities. The good enamel also makes the teeth resistant to hot and cold food in terms of temperature change.
Anatomy
What Does Enamel Look Like?
Part of the enamel is transparent. Its colour is due to the dentin layer beneath it which may be light yellow or grayish-white in colour. The combination of enamel and dentin helps to make the teeth of every individual have a different shade.
What’s Enamel Made Of?
The structure of enamel is made of packed minerals with the majority being calcium and phosphorus which constitute approximately 95 per cent of enamel. These minerals create very strong crystalline forms that are used to make the enamel hard. The composition of the rest consists of water and a little protein.
Conditions and Disorders
Routine Pathologies of Enamel.
Enamel may wear out or become weak, although this is not very strong. In case it occurs, several problems may appear:
Enamel erosion – This is whereby food, beverages or bacteria eat away the surface of the enamel leaving the dentin beneath which is exposed and makes it sensitive.
Cavities Acid that is generated by bacteria that consume sugars has the ability to dissolve enamel resulting in decay.
Sensitivity of the tooth- Due to the thinning of enamel, heat, cold, and sweets may cause sharp sensations.
Staining and discolouration- Thinner enamel is more revealing of the natural colour of dentin.
Contributing factors to loss of enamel include the intake of sweetened or sour beverages and foods, dry mouth (caused by lack of protective saliva), grinding of teeth, acid reflux, and genetics which may lead to the birth of enamel that is thin.
Care
Correct Caring of my tooth enamel?
To preserve enamel, it is necessary to take care of it constantly:
Use fluoride toothpaste on brushing teeth, twice per day to eliminate plaque and make enamel stronger.
Brush your teeth every day to remove the food particles and bacteria stuck between teeth.
Reduce high sugar and acidic food and beverages that may erode enamel.
Sugar-free gum chews to increase saliva, which helps safeguard enamel.
The habits that strain the teeth like grinding or chewing on ice should be avoided.
Keep well hydrated and always have your teeth checked to check on the health of the enamel.
