One of the lesser-known yet fairly common issues that many people encounter with their teeth is thin enamel. This is also referred to as soft teeth, a malformation of the tooth enamel. Whether the enamel is insufficient or it deteriorates easily, this leaves the teeth more vulnerable to decay.
Whether you have been diagnosed with thin enamel or you suspect you have enamel problems, you should know about the treatment options. Discover some of the things you need to understand.
Why Does Thin Enamel Matter?
Recognize and treat thin tooth enamel because your teeth will be more susceptible to decay without intervention. Enamel is the barrier that protects dentin from decay. When that enamel has weakened or deteriorated, this makes the tooth vulnerable to caries, sensitivity, pain, and other discomforts. This can also lead to costly dental visits over time.
Sometimes, thin enamel is a result of enamel malformation. In other cases, it is the result of poor dental hygiene, aggressive brushing, or excessive exposure to acidic foods. All of these things can lead to lost tooth enamel.
How Can You Treat Thin Enamel?
Treating thin tooth enamel starts with identifying the source of the problem. Sometimes, this means learning new ways to brush teeth, including steps to be gentler and reduce the risk of further enamel damage. This may also mean recommendations for dietary changes to reduce acid exposure.
Once you have identified and addressed the source of the problem, start looking at ways to restore the enamel on your teeth. Remember that tooth enamel will not just grow back on its own. It does not regenerate or recover the way that body tissue does. Instead, you will need a dentist's intervention to help protect your teeth and strengthen that enamel finish.
Frequent Cleanings
The first step is to ensure that you get frequent dental cleanings to protect teeth against prolonged plaque and tartar exposure. Additionally, those frequent dental cleanings will help identify cavity development in its earliest stages to mitigate it.
Fluoride Application
Another way to help the enamel condition on your teeth is with fluoride. Although this might trigger images of the thick Styrofoam trays that dentists used to fill with fluoride gel and put over your teeth, it is not typically done that way anymore. In an effort to reduce how much fluoride is swallowed, the dentist usually applies it directly to each individual tooth with a brush instead. This ensures a thorough, even coating.
Prescription Toothpaste
While the toothpaste products that you find on the store shelves do contain fluoride, the concentration is negligible. If you suffer from thin or deteriorating tooth enamel, you need more fluoride than traditional toothpaste provides.
Prescription toothpaste products, obtainable only from your dentist, will contain much higher fluoride concentrations. This is important because it provides ongoing fluoride treatment to your teeth. Just make sure that you follow the instructions and do not rinse after bruising.
Fluoride-Dense Mouthwash
Most mouthwash products focus more on bacteria and breath freshening than providing fluoride to teeth. However, some mouthwash options have more fluoride in the rinse. Your dentist may actually provide you with a prescription mouth rinse to use a couple of times a day, and this rinse will contain a higher fluoride concentration to help build enamel and protect your teeth.
You do not need to suffer from sensitive, crumbling teeth when your dentist can offer these treatment options. Give us a call at
Advanced Dental Care
for more information. We look forward to helping you have the strongest and most attractive teeth possible for a brighter smile. Let us know what questions you have.
