The enamel in your teeth is the strongest substance in the human body and contains about 96-percent of its minerals, including calcium phosphate, which is essential in the formation and maintenance of healthy gums and teeth.
As strong as enamel is, without proper care it can get damaged and the bad news is that once it’s gone, it cannot be replaced. One of dentistry’s major concerns is protecting the enamel in your teeth. Here are the top 3 ways to protect your tooth enamel.
| • | Limit Sugary Foods and Drinks. The bacteria in your mouth love sugar, which turns into acid that eats and softens your enamel. Therefore, we recommend you limit the intake of sugary foods and drinks as much as possible. A nice, cold glass of plain water is your safest choice for drinks and reaching for an apple or any other fruit, can help you curve that need for a sweet treat. Eliminating sugar from a diet is nearly impossible. If you read your food labels you will see that sugar is added to almost everything we eat, even if it’s not sweet. |
| • | Brush your teeth at least twice daily and if you have the time and inclination, after every meal, to protect your enamel, and don’t forget to floss at least once per day. Flossing is extremely important to reach all those particles of food left behind after brushing. Not flossing contributes to the growth of plaque, which is also a breeding ground for bacteria that destroys your tooth enamel. |
| • | Visit us regularly. Keeping your checkups and letting us take a good look at your mouth and give it a professional cleaning is a must to protect your tooth enamel. |
Having good eating and oral health habits will allow you to keep the enamel in your teeth healthy.