Dental erosion occurs when acids dissolve away part of the enamel surface of your teeth. It is usually caused by acidic drinks or medicines, excessive vomiting or acid reflux. Erosion is not caused by bacteria, so it is different to tooth decay. Dental erosion can occur at any age.
Read nutrition labels to cut down your sugar consumption and consider switching to water, tea and coconut water. Wait before brushing. Since acid softens your tooth enamel, brushing immediately after eating or drinking high-acid foods or drinks can cause damage. Wait at least half an hour before you brush.
Unlike a broken bone that can be repaired by the body, once a tooth chips or breaks, the damage is done forever. Because enamel has no living cells, the body cannot repair chipped or cracked enamel.
The bad news is, once your enamel has eroded, it won't grow back. Because enamel is mostly inorganic, your body can't regenerate it once it's lost.
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.
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.
Worn and missing enamel leaves your teeth more susceptible to cavities and decay. Small cavities are no big deal, but if left to grow and fester, they can lead to infections such as painful tooth abscesses. Worn enamel also impacts the appearance of your smile.
Enamel hypoplasia (enamel defect) is a common medical condition, classified as a developmental dental defect (D3), characterized by a reduction of tooth enamel thickness or poor-quality tooth enamel due to low mineral content.
Amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) (amelogenesis - enamel formation; imperfecta - imperfect) is a disorder that affects the structure and appearance of the enamel of the teeth. This condition causes teeth to be very small, discolored, pitted or grooved, and prone to rapid wear and breakage with early tooth decay and loss.
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.
Tooth enamel erosion exposes the inner layers of your teeth to open air and the foods and drinks you consume. This makes your teeth more vulnerable to cavities. In addition, tooth enamel loss can make your teeth more sensitive to heat, cold and sweets. They may also stain more easily.
See Through Teeth or Shiny Spots
The more you experience enamel loss the more the teeth become worn down and thinner until they look nearly transparent. Your teeth may also lose their natural shine causing them to look dull and lack-luster. This is a sign that your teeth have lost important minerals.
After you eat, bacteria in your mouth feast on sugars from sweet foods and starches. This makes acids that can destroy enamel. The green rods in this slide are bacteria that cause mild gum disease, also called gingivitis. Acids in sodas, juices, and drinks are harmful, too.
Likewise, if you notice increased sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods and liquids, you may be experiencing an early sign of enamel loss. Later stages may feel more severe. In some cases, teeth may feel rough around the edges.
Absent the impact stress has on the immune system, chronic stress often causes involuntary teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism). Because this often happens during the sleep cycle, you may not even be aware that you are doing it. Prolonged grinding can wear down teeth, damage the enamel, and cause headaches.
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.
There are a number of ways that you can whiten your teeth if they are or have already yellowed; these are a mix of over-the-counter toothpastes, home whitening products or, in some cases, mechanical plaque removal by a dentist or hygienist.
The remineralization process usually takes about three to four months to take effect. However, once you begin to better fortify your enamel, you may start to see stronger teeth, experience less sensitivity, and even reveal a whiter smile.
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.
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.
Translucent-looking teeth indicate that your teeth have lost some of the enamel that covers the surface of the tooth, which can expose underlying dentin. Enamel that has eroded cannot regrow nor can a dentist encourage it to grow back.
It cannot regenerate itself, because it is formed by a layer of cells that are lost after the tooth eruption. Conventional treatment relies on synthetic materials to restore lost enamel that cannot mimic natural enamel.
Unfortunately, tooth enamel starts to demineralize, or erode, around a pH level of 5.5 or lower. This ultimately means that the more acidic foods and beverages consumed, the more enamel erosion that occurs over time. As the enamel continues to wear down, it will eventually become translucent.