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.
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.
The remineralization process usually takes about three to four months to take effect.
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.
Even though enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, it can still become worn and chipped away, a process called enamel erosion. Unlike a broken bone that can heal itself, enamel has no living cells, meaning once the damage is done, it's permanent.
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.
Treatment of tooth enamel loss depends on the problem. Sometimes tooth bonding is used to protect the tooth and increase cosmetic appearance. If the enamel loss is significant, the dentist may recommend covering the tooth with a crown or veneer. The crown may protect the tooth from further decay.
Enamel erosion is primarily caused by the acids in the foods and beverages you consume. These acids wear the enamel down over time, especially if you don't properly brush your teeth after eating acidic food. Saliva is a naturally-forming agent that neutralizes acid to protect your teeth.
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.
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.
With the enamel gone, the soft inner surfaces of your teeth will be exposed to the open air and to any food and drink that you consume. This means that the affected teeth will become discoloured or stained more easily. Your teeth will also become more sensitive to hot and cold foods or drinks.
Can tooth enamel grow back? Enamel is very tough. However, it doesn't have any living cells and is unable to repair itself if it undergoes physical or chemical damage. This means that enamel erosion isn't reversible, and the enamel won't grow back.
Enameloplasty is one of the least expensive and invasive cosmetic dentistry procedures, ranging from around $50 to $300 per tooth on average. This cost can vary based on how extensive the reshaping needs to be, the location of the tooth or teeth being contoured, your geographical location, and your overall oral health.
Use fluoride treatment
Fluoride is tooth enamel's best friend, helping to strengthen and restore it after normal wear and tear. The best way to implement fluoride treatment while working to restore tooth enamel is to use a fluoride-based toothpaste and mouthwash.
While the enamel can't grow back, it can be remineralized with special tooth repair kits. Certain toothpastes and dental products push calcium and phosphates back into the teeth and harden the enamel. Fluoride plays a powerful role by capturing the calcium and phosphates that acids draw out of the teeth.
Enamel can repair itself by using minerals from saliva, and fluoride from toothpaste or other sources. But if the tooth decay process continues, more minerals are lost. Over time, the enamel is weakened and destroyed, forming a cavity. A cavity is permanent damage that a dentist has to repair with a filling.
If your teeth have already thinned, there are a few treatments that help restore the enamel. Dental bonding, a treatment that involves the application of a composite resin to your teeth, is one option. Veneers are another option for those who are interested.
Cheese, milk, plain yogurt, and other dairy products.
The calcium and phosphates in milk, cheese, and other dairy products, help put back minerals your teeth might have lost due to other foods. They also help rebuild tooth enamel.
As tooth enamel wears down, you will feel rough edges where the teeth were once smooth. Eventually, this will lead to chips and cracks. The more you experience enamel loss the more the teeth become worn down and thinner until they look nearly transparent.
Rounded or Rough Edges
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.
Once the tooth enamel has been damaged, there is no way to reverse the effects of tooth enamel erosion. Dr. Hoard does offer services like tooth bonding, dental veneers, and dental crowns to help treat the damaged tooth 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.
Remineralizing toothpaste can help strengthen your teeth but it can't regrow enamel or reverse cavities. Toothpaste that contains calcium phosphate or stannous fluoride or similar forms of fluoride can help remineralize tooth enamel providing there is enough left to build on.
Brushing your teeth too often or too vigorously can wear down the enamel of the teeth. Overbrushing causes the gums to recede, which can make them more susceptible to disease. The enamel is the protective layer of your teeth, so wearing it down can make your teeth more sensitive and susceptible to damage.
Sensodyne Pronamel works by repairing tooth enamel and remineralizing each tooth deep within its surface, to protect from further damage and acid erosion.