Enamel formation on a child's permanent teeth begins during infancy and continues until somewhere around age 7 or 8 (with the exception of the enamel on the wisdom teeth, which forms later).
Once tooth enamel is damaged, it cannot be brought back. However, weakened enamel can be restored to some degree by improving its mineral content. Although toothpastes and mouthwashes can never “rebuild” teeth, they can contribute to this remineralization process.
Enamel hypoplasia is a developmental defect that results in inadequate enamel. It can affect both baby teeth and permanent teeth. In severe cases, no enamel forms on the teeth, and in standard cases, the tooth enamel is thin and weak.
Current research suggests that environmental factors that may increase the risk of enamel hypoplasia in children include the following: Premature birth. Low birth weight. Malnutrition, including vitamin D deficiency rickets.
Don't Skip an Aesthetic Fix. Even though you can't reverse enamel erosion and shouldn't whiten at home to reduce yellowing, you can still change the look of your smile. The dentist can bond a tooth-colored material to the damaged area to create a smooth, pearly white finish.
As the enamel erodes more, your teeth may appear grayish or yellow. Your teeth may begin to appear rounded, develop ridges, and often the gaps between teeth will become more substantial. Eventually, you may notice cracks in the teeth or experience loss of tooth material.
Importance of early detection of tooth decay in young children. In the very early stages, early childhood caries can be reversed with treatment by a dentist or other oral health professional.
Enamel Loss And Fluorosis
Your child's enamel may wear down if he or she is drinking too much juice and consuming sugary food or beverages like soda. Try to counteract this process by having them drink acidic juices through a straw so it won't hit the teeth. In addition, monitor your child's snacking.
Unfortunately, tooth decay is rather common in children – it is preventable with excellent oral hygiene and diet practices, however, dental caries still remains one of the most common diseases that affects children of all ages. By the age of 4, more than 1 in every 4 children has at least one cavity.
Many fruits are high in acidity, including lemons, grapefruit, strawberries, grapes, and apples. The high sugar and acid content in soda makes it another huge contributor to enamel decay. Moderately acidic foods include pineapple, oranges, tomatoes, cottage cheese, maple syrup, yogurt, raisins, pickles, and honey.
Toothpastes for Enamel Protection
Help guard against the daily effects of acid erosion with Sensodyne's line of toothpastes specially formulated for enamel protection. Our Pronamel range strengthens and rehardens weakened enamel for ongoing protection against acid wear.
It could be the result of an acidic diet, medication side reactions or just vigorous brushing. Dry mouth, low salivary flow, diet high in sugar and starches, bruxism and friction, acid reflux disease, gastrointestinal problems and even genetics could also be blamed for enamel erosion.
Using veneers for enamel loss
Dental veneers are a common solution for weak or lost enamel. For dental patients who want dental veneers, the dentist will first take a mold of their teeth to fabricate the custom veneers.
This is because teeth can become translucent due to the effects of enamel erosion, which is a slow, gradual process. As the enamel wears down and becomes thinner, it begins to lose its natural color. This allows the underlying dentin layer to show through.
In most cases, by the time you notice the symptoms of tooth decay, it will be too late to reverse the damage with natural methods. You will need to consult your dentist to prevent the damage from spreading to other areas of the tooth.
Genes play a major role in developing the structure of enamel, so if you have weak enamel, it is due to your genes. Weakened enamel makes it easier for bacteria and acids to cause cavities and decay.
Tooth enamel is the hardest tissue in the body. Problem is, it's not living tissue, so it can't be naturally regenerated. Unfortunately, you can't regrow it artificially, either -- not even with those special toothpastes.
Try non-acidic foods: Certain foods are good for your enamel. Many types of fruits and vegetables, dairy products such as milk, and foods or drinks containing fluoride – notably spinach, grapes and black tea – will be useful to naturally restore enamel.
This incredibly hard and resistant outer shell of your teeth helps protect them from decay and infection, preserving the structure of your smile. Although many people are aware that it's the strongest substance in the body, researchers recently learned that with proper maintenance, it can last an entire lifetime.
Once the enamel is gone, the lost portion cannot be retrieved. Your body cannot make new enamel. However, you can strengthen and repair existing enamel. This happens through a process called remineralisation, which naturally occurs when essential minerals like fluoride, calcium, and phosphate reunite with your enamel.