Most people know that they need to look after their teeth.
Practicing good dental hygiene is usually made a part of the daily routine from a young age, but many people don’t consider exactly why and how they need to take care of their teeth.
Here are the answers.
Protect the Enamel
Enamel is a layer of coating that protects the teeth. It’s the hardest tissue in the human body, but it’s important to look after it.
Why You Need Enamel
Enamel is needed to protect the teeth from damage caused by daily activities such as eating, as well as temperature changes.
Enamel protects the teeth from sensitivity; if you feel any pain when you eat hot or cold foods, this may be caused by thinning of the enamel.
Looking after your enamel can prevent tooth sensitivity to extreme temperatures.
Thinning enamel also leaves your teeth more susceptible to cavities; enamel protects your teeth from damage caused by eating and erosion caused by acids in the foods you eat, so with less of it, your teeth are more vulnerable.
Broken down enamel also causes tooth discoloration.
As the enamel wears away, the layer of dentin underneath will start to show through, and this causes the teeth to appear yellow or less white.
Enamel is essential for keeping your pearly whites looking … well, pearly white!
How to Protect the Enamel
A buildup of plaque on the teeth can become tartar, and this can damage and erode the tooth’s enamel. Damage to enamel can’t be undone, so it’s essential to take preventative steps to look after your enamel.
- Don’t overbrush. Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time, but don’t do it any more than that, as you could be literally brushing the enamel off of your teeth.
- Go easy on the pressure. Similarly, brushing too hard could have a negative impact on your gums. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles to avoid this.
- Skip the soda. The acids found in sodas can have devastating effects on your teeth—even if you drink diet sodas. An easy way to protect your enamel is to avoid soda and other acidic drinks altogether.
Protect your enamel to keep your teeth healthy and strong.
Pesky Plaque and Terrible Tartar
Plaque is a layer of bacteria-containing film that builds up on your teeth.
If it’s left alone on the teeth for long enough, it will harden into tartar, which is when the real problems come in.
Tartar is rough and hard, and it makes it harder to brush your teeth and prevent cavities.
Tartar can coat the teeth and even spread below the gum line, leading to halitosis (bad breath) or —worse— gingivitis (gum disease), which can cause tooth loss if left untreated.
Prevention Is Better than the Cure
Teeth are strong but also fragile, and when it comes to dental care, prevention is better than the cure.
Take steps to look after your teeth and prevent a buildup of tartar.
Brush thoroughly twice a day, floss to clean the spaces between your teeth, and go to your dentist regularly for a deep clean.
Visit bafdentistry.com to see what services are available for you.
Cleaning your teeth regularly will keep your teeth strong and healthy, preventing discoloration, tooth loss, and potentially painful cavities or dental procedures.
Looking after your teeth will keep your whole body healthier, preventing oral infections and diseases.