Teeth are extremely durable and strong; however, they are not infallible. Our teeth naturally wear with age, and sometimes the enamel can erode at an accelerated rate. While preventing wear entirely is not always an option, you can take measures and precautions to minimize the wear and keep your teeth protected. When teeth become too eroded and exposed, they are vulnerable to disease and decay.
Ways To Protect Your Tooth Enamel And Slow Down The Wear Process
1. Keep Teeth Straight
A straight set of pearly whites is not only a cosmetic perk, it can also stop the accelerated wearing process. A straight bite where both the top and bottom set of teeth align and fit properly can keep tooth enamel protected. Many opt for Invisalign or braces to orthodontically correct the bite, give you a perfect smile and reduce abnormal biting that contributes to wear. Many people undergo orthodontic treatments as both a cosmetic and general dentistry treatment to improve their oral health and overall appearance. At Slipacoff Dental, our invisible braces treatment at our Sarnia clinic can correct your bite and enhance your smile.
2. Reduce Acidic Food Intake
Foods or beverages with high acidity, such as pops, sports drinks and spicy foods, can accelerate tooth erosion. It’s in your best interest to reduce your acidic food intake or eliminate it from your diet entirely, if possible. If you do choose to have acidic foods, ensure you clean your teeth and gums by rinsing your mouth out with water afterwards.
3. Be Careful With Brushing
Brushing too aggressively on your teeth and gums can cause gum recession and expose the tooth enamel to wear. Proper, healthy brushing twice daily for two minutes each session is imperative to optimal oral health. Brushing more than this or brushing too hard, too fast or right after eating can be harmful to your enamel. Ensure you give it at least half an hour after your meal, especially at night, to brush to allow the saliva enough time to neutralize the acid in your mouth.
4. Contact A Dentist For Bruxism Help
Bruxism refers to the involuntary grinding of teeth, which can often cause abnormal biting that increases tooth wear and weakens the overall structure of the teeth. Abnormal, high biting can weaken the tooth structure to the point of decay or fracture. Although bruxism is a fairly common dental problem in adults, it still must be addressed before the problem worsens. Bruxism is often the result of high stress and anxiety and many people do not even realize that they are grinding their teeth, as it primarily happens at night when they sleep. Slipacoff Dental’s professional dentists can discuss custom guards with you to prevent the upper and lower teeth from grinding against each other and keep your teeth safe.
Slipacoff Dental Centre brings over 38 years of dedicated dentistry experience and service to the Sarnia community. We offer general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry services and orthodontics to ensure our patients have access to everything they need to achieve optimal oral health.