My Tooth Enamel is Thin? Can I Fix It?

[Brent Cornelius D.D.S.]

Do some of the foods you love now “bite back” at you? That is, are you finding that your usual Sunday afternoon ice cream cone causes some pain when you bite into it? Do hot or cold foods see you quickly placing your hands on your mouth from the pain? And this is for food temperatures that never bothered you before?

 

This tooth sensitivity could be signs that your tooth enamel has started to erode or thin.

 

Your tooth enamel is the outer layer of the tooth. It’s actually a very tough shell – it’s the hardest tissue in the human body, stronger even than our bones. It’s the part of your teeth that others see when you smile.

 

Enamel does more than just present a pretty smile to your friends. It protects your teeth from the rigors of daily use – from biting, crunching, chewing, and grinding.

Your tooth enamel is the white covering over your tooth. It’s actually stronger than your bones.

The bad news: should your tooth enamel erode/thin to the point that it develops cracks or chips, the damage is done: enamel has no living cells and the human body isn't able to repair cracked or chipped enamel.

 

Enamel erosion can be caused by several things, including a diet high in sugar and starches, drinking a lot of soft drinks (the phosphoric and citric acids can wear it away), medications such as aspirin and antihistamines, low flow of saliva, acid re-flux disease (GERD), as well as gastrointestinal problems that cause frequent vomiting, which can erode enamel.

 

Normal wear and tear also can erode enamel as you grow older.