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). The enamel is produced by special cells called ameloblasts.
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.
Because tooth enamel does not consist of living cells, it does not grow back or repair naturally. However, while you cannot repair your enamel, you can help your teeth remineralize. Remineralizing your enamel means restoring some of its minerals to help recoup the loss of your protective enamel.
The enamel on our teeth is not living tissue, so it cannot repair itself if it is damaged or eroded. Once the enamel is gone, it's gone for good.
As the enamel continues to erode, your teeth might turn a gray or yellowish color. If your teeth change shape, it's a good indicator that you have enamel damage. Your teeth may begin to appear rounded, develop ridges, and often the gaps between teeth will become more substantial.
Use fluoride treatment
Also, many dentists can provide a stronger fluoride treatment to help those with weak enamel. Simply implementing fluoride treatment into a daily oral care routine can significantly help in rebuilding tooth enamel.
Just like the rest of your body, your teeth change as you age. Enamel gets thinner, while stains accumulate. The wear and tear that comes with decades of use begins to take a toll, as do certain medications and health conditions.
You could be noticing enamel hypoplasia. This condition is a defect that causes a lesser quantity of enamel than normal. It can appear as a white spot, yellow to brown staining, pits, grooves or even thin, chipped or missing parts of enamel. In severe cases, the enamel doesn't develop at all.
Dental neglect is a form of child maltreatment and, if suspected, should be reported to the appropriate child protective agencies.
One treatment option is repairing tooth enamel with dental bonding. Dental bonding involves applying a dental resin to the tooth surface to protect damaged areas and restore the intact surface. Enamel damage is usually experienced on the front of your teeth.
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.
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.
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.
Only a dentist can repair or rebuild tooth enamel. Learn how to protect tooth enamel from damage. Tooth enamel plays an important role in protecting your teeth, so it's important to keep it healthy. However, everyday acids that you have in our mouth can put your enamel at risk.
Even if you are in your 70s or 80s, you can still have your teeth whitened. Teeth whitening is a safe and effective way to improve the appearance of your smile, and it can be done at any age.
Symptoms of thin enamel can be a translucent or clear appearance, white spots, tiny grooves or pits, sensitivity to hot or cold food/drink, tooth decay, and cavities.
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.
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.
Calcium Deficiency
Calcium is one of the essential vitamins for your dental health. It helps teeth and bones remain strong and healthy, and it prevents jaw bone deterioration teeth from becoming brittle or yellowing with age. A calcium deficiency can lead to teeth discoloration as well as tooth loss.
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.
But weakened enamel can be salvaged through a process called remineralization, which replaces lost minerals in the enamel, making it strong once again. Products with fluoride, like fluoridated toothpaste and foods high in calcium, are great for aiding in remineralization.