Many may not know this, but tooth enamel is single-handedly the toughest tissue in the human body. Tooth enamel is an extremely important part of the tooth as it helps protect it from damage that can be caused by chomping, biting, grinding, and crunching. Enamel also acts as an insulator to protect the teeth from both hot and cold foods and liquids. Healthy tooth enamel is imperative for good dental health. Enamel, though, has no living cells, meaning that the body is unable to repair enamel if it is damaged or lost.
Until we have the technology to regrow dental enamel, it is important that we protect our teeth now, in order to escape from any possibility of tooth decay in the future. In the following article we will discuss whether or not it’s possible to regrow tooth enamel, but most importantly how to keep our teeth safe.
Know Your Tooth Enamel
Enamel that hugs the integral part of our teeth, is comprised of tightly packed rods of minerals. Each rod contains millions of carbonated hydroxyapatite crystals, And the rods in one tooth can range anywhere from 5 million to 12 million depending on the tooth. When brushing your teeth with a side-to-side motion, you’re going against the orientation of the enamel rods in your teeth, which can affect the rods and weekends their structure. It’s important that you position your toothbrushes bristles at a 45 degree angle and brush gently in order to protect your enamel from weakening or breaking.
More Tooth Brushing Basics
Most dental hygienists advise you to brush your teeth for 3 minutes. If you’re unsure whether or not you brush for long enough, get a timer that you can bring into the bathroom and pace yourself. Electronic brushes also usually come with their own timers, ensuring that you never brush too little or too much, as both can have an adverse effect on your tooth enamel.
Another important tip can be looking in the mirror when you’re brushing. We’re sure you’re well aware of the importance to be gentle around your gum area, but it is important to clean the area properly. What you risk when not brushing properly is a buildup of plaque, tartar, and bacteria around the gum line. Removing plaque doesn’t take extra force, it just requires gently and thoroughly cleaning your teeth.
If you still have questions concerning how to keep your teeth and enamel safe, feel free to give any of us at A Smile 4 U a call. We serve a large portion of GA and MS, and would love the opportunity to meet you and your family.