How does enamel wear away

You cannot grow your enamel back. This is why it is so important to protect it and to try to mineralize your teeth through fluoride. Acid eats away at your enamel, and over time it will erode it so much that you may start to experience tooth sensitivity.

When your tooth enamel has worn away, your teeth are no longer protected and are more vulnerable to decay. Skip to content. British Columbia Ontario. What is enamel loss? What does enamel loss look like?

How can I replace my lost enamel? What happens if my enamel is gone? How can I prevent enamel loss? Share this This can give the tooth a yellowish appearance. In addition to taking on a more yellow appearance, the teeth may look more translucent, dull, and can lose their natural shine.

The outer edges of your teeth are most at risk for acid erosion as they are the weakest and tend to take on the brunt of the damage. As enamel continues to wear down, the edges of the teeth no longer remain smooth. Instead, they can take on a rounded and rough appearance. If the problem is not promptly remedied, it can lead to cracks and chips in the teeth. As the protective layer of your teeth breaks down, your teeth become more susceptible to tooth decay. Cavities can have many causes such as frequent snacking, bacteria in the mouth, sipping sugary beverages, and not cleaning your teeth well.

If your enamel is left to grow weaker, the tooth as a whole can suffer. In time, the tooth structure can begin to break down resulting in painful fractures.

There are many steps you can take to protect your teeth and prevent further enamel loss. First, cut down on acidic foods and drinks such as citrus fruits, juices, and sodas. If you do eat or drink something acidic, rinse your mouth out with water directly after consumption. More than nine in 10 Canadians have had dental decay at some point in their lives. This makes tooth decay the most common oral condition in Canada, and, in fact, throughout the world.

The good news is, tooth decay is preventable. This is much thanks to the enamel, the extremely hard material that covers and protects the teeth. This doesn't mean that the enamel is impervious to damage, though. Tooth enamel loss can still occur, and it can happen way faster if you make the wrong food and drink choices. Ready to learn more about enamel and the many things that can weaken it? Then let's get right into it! What Is the Enamel? The enamel is the hard, outermost layer of the teeth.

Think of it as a shield protecting the inner, more sensitive parts of your teeth. In fact, it's this material that protects your teeth from the bad bacteria that live in the mouth. This makes the enamel the hardest material in the body -- even harder than bone and steel. However, the enamel is also a lot more brittle than both. As such, no matter how hard the enamel is, it can corrode, erode, and wear away over time. Enamel loss is one of the main causes of tooth sensitivity and eventually, dental decay.

When this occurs, your gums will become more susceptible to gum disease. Contrary to popular belief though, aging isn't the sole culprit behind the loss of enamel. Yes, you'll lose some of this protective covering as a natural part of the aging process. However, there are many other things that can speed up the deterioration of the enamel.

Poor Dental Hygiene The oral cavity is home to about bacterial species. Most of these microorganisms are benign or harmless, while others aid in digestion. Some even help protect the gums and teeth from diseases. Many others, however, are the primary reason for tooth decay and gum disease.

These are the bacteria that feed on the carbohydrates left by the food and drinks you consume. As they eat away and digest these carbs, these bacteria produce acids on the teeth.

These acids turn into plaque once they get mixed with your saliva and the other bacteria in your mouth. Plaque is the soft, sticky, and clear film that forms on the surfaces of and between teeth. It can also cover the areas above and below your gum line. Plaque contains millions of bacteria that attack the teeth enamel.

Repeated attacks will ultimately wear away and weaken the enamel. The thing is, detectable plaque can form on undisturbed teeth in as little as 12 hours. This is why you need to brush and floss at least twice a day.