What Is Tooth Enamel (and How It Gets Damaged!) - Hinsdale Dentistry (2024)

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What Is Tooth Enamel (and How It Gets Damaged!) - Hinsdale Dentistry? ›

Enamel's smooth surface also makes it less likely for bacteria to cling, thus playing a significant role in preventing cavities. Despite its hardness, it is susceptible to erosion and wear over time. And, unfortunately, enamel does not have living cells, meaning once it's lost, the body cannot regenerate it.

One of the main causes of enamel erosion are acids found in the foods and liquids you consume. Saliva constantly neutralizes acid in your mouth to protect your teeth. But if you consume too much acidic food and drink, and don't properly brush your teeth, the outer layer of enamel will degrade over time.

Tooth enamel is the hard, visible, outermost covering of your teeth. Enamel is translucent, giving teeth their sparkle, and depending on its thickness, it shows through the colour of the underlying dentine which varies from light yellow to a grey or blue-like white.

Sometimes the bacteria in plaque changes food starches into acids. When this happens, the acids in plaque start to eat away at the healthy minerals in the tooth enamel. This causes the enamel to wear down and become pitted. Over time, the pits in the enamel increase and grow in size.

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.

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.

One of the most common signs your tooth's enamel is damaged is sensitivity. You may notice discomfort while eating or drinking something with hot or hot temperatures. The more your enamel gets damaged, the more extreme your sensitivity will become.

Tooth decay begins when bacteria in your mouth make acids that attack the tooth's surface (enamel). This can lead to a small hole in a tooth, called a cavity. If tooth decay is not treated, it can cause pain, infection, and even tooth loss.

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.

But as amazing as the body's ability to repair itself may be, it can't regrow tooth enamel. Ever. Tooth enamel is the hardest tissue in the body. Problem is, it's not living tissue, so it can't be naturally regenerated.

What toothpaste rebuilds enamel? ›

Treatment of tooth enamel loss depends on your individual needs. Your dentist may recommend tooth bonding (filling the damaged areas with tooth-colored resins) to protect the tooth and improve its appearance. If the enamel loss is more severe, a crown may be necessary to protect the tooth from further decay.

Eat a Remineralization Diet

Certain foods can help remineralize softened areas in your teeth that acidic foods and drinks have weakened. For example, foods rich in calcium (dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt) help put back minerals into the enamel, and fiber-rich fruits and vegetables encourage saliva flow.

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. This is why it's so important to take care of our teeth and to avoid anything that could damage or erode the enamel.

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.

When a substantial amount of enamel wears away from the tooth, the yellowish dentin layer becomes more visible. This can give the tooth a yellowish appearance. This differs from yellow stains that can appear on the tooth's surface due to smoking and the consumption of certain foods and beverages.

Unfortunately, the answer is no. Tooth enamel cannot grow back because it is not living tissue. It can't be naturally regenerated or even artificially regrown.

"You can't regrow tooth enamel, but you can remineralize it," says upwave review-board member Mark Wolff, DDS, a professor of dentistry at New York University. "That's what these [toothpastes] actually do... They push calcium and phosphates back into the tooth, and it hardens the enamel." The secret weapon?

Once the enamel is worn out or damaged, it cannot grow back or self-repair. The reason is that dental enamel in a baby develops through a complex mineralization process regulated by a thin layer of cells called ameloblasts.