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Dental Health and Food: Learning to Eat Better

My intense love for candy, cakes, and everything in between started as a child. I simply couldn't go one day without something sweet to eat. But my love for all things sweet took a toll on my teeth. My dentist diagnosed me with seven cavities, each one a different size and depth. After sitting through four long dental appointments, I decided to make a change. I now monitor my diet and only eat things that benefit my oral health. I'm here to help you take better care of your teeth. My blog offers tips on how to improve your diet, maintain good oral hygiene, and many other topics. Hopefully, you can learn to overcome your bad habits just as I did. Good luck with your future dental health.

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Dental Health and Food: Learning to Eat Better

3 Things to Know About Replacing the Enamel on Your Teeth

by Eric Bailey

The one thing that protects your teeth the most is the enamel your teeth naturally have over them. Enamel is extremely hard, and it does a great job of protecting your teeth from problems, but it can wear away. This is called tooth enamel erosion, and it is something that can happen to anyone; however, it is more likely to occur slowly making it more of a problem for older people. If you discover from your dentist that your enamel is weak and is starting to erode, you may want to know what you can do to rebuild it.

It Won't Come Back on Its Own

The first and most important thing to know is that enamel doesn't come back. If it wears away, it is gone, and there truly is no way to make it come back. Because of this, most dentists recommend taking preventative measures to avoid losing it in the first place, and your dentist can help you determine how you can do this to prevent losing more of your enamel. This is important to know simply because enamel is vital for the health of your teeth. When it is there and is sufficient, it will keep your teeth healthier. When it is gone, it can increase the risks that you will develop problems with your teeth.

Using Fluoride Can Make a Difference

The second thing to understand is that fluoride is a product that can actually strengthen the enamel you do have. It may not make the enamel come back, but it will help you keep the enamel that you still have. The process of using fluoride for this purpose is called remineralization. This is not something that can happen overnight, though. It will take time for the fluoride to work and strengthen your enamel.

Before you begin using fluoride for this purpose, talk to your dentist to find out what the best methods are. Your dentist might recommend drinking water that contains low levels of fluoride, or he or she might tell you to use mouthwash that contains fluoride. Using fluoride toothpaste is another great way to expose your teeth to the fluoride they need.

Dental Procedures Are Another Option

If your enamel has eroded a lot or if there is none left, your dentist might recommend a dental procedure to fix the problem. While your dentist cannot apply new enamel to your teeth, your dentist can use substitute products that can help protect your teeth. These substitutes are not as good as real enamel, but they do act in ways that are similar. They just will not last as long as enamel is designed to last if cared for properly.

Two of these products are bonding and dental crowns or veneers. Bonding is a material a dentist can apply to your teeth simply to protect them. The bonding material used in the bonding procedure is applied to your teeth; and while it is not enamel, it actually serves the same purpose. Placing veneers or crowns on your teeth can also be a good way to protect them if your enamel is no longer present. Veneers are usually best for fixing front teeth, while dental crowns are used to fix molar teeth that have problems. You may need a combination of all these services if your enamel has eroded away.

Keeping your teeth strong will require developing good daily habits that include brushing and flossing. This can help you keep your enamel on your teeth, which will help you keep your teeth cavity-free. If you have questions about the health of your teeth, visit a clinic like Family 1st Dental.

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