Tooth enamel is actually pretty amazing. It is the hardest substance in the human body, even harder than bone.1 It is the outer-most covering on your teeth which protects the sensitive dentin and pulp inside your teeth.
Enamel is made up of minerals and isn’t living, so it’s not able to repair itself. 2 Tooth enamel takes a beating from foods and beverages that create friction and wear on your teeth. Enamel also prevents tooth sensitivity, tooth decay and infections.
Toothpastes and rinses can help strengthen the existing enamel, but once enamel is lost, these products can’t re-grow enamel.
As we age our tooth enamel begins to wear off due to general wear and tear and consumption of sugary and acidic foods.
When enamel wears down your teeth become more prone to getting cavities which are small holes in the teeth. These holes continue to grow until a dentist removes the decay and fills or puts a crown on the teeth.
Boosting Enamel
Saliva and fluoride can restore damaged tooth enamel. Fluoride remineralizes enamel so dentists use fluoride treatments to restore damaged tooth enamel. Even if they aren’t able to re-grow enamel, toothpastes and rinses formulated to strengthen enamel are an important tool in the arsenal against tooth decay.
Enamel Loss
You can visually see enamel loss. It shows up in white spots on the teeth and, especially as we age, in yellow discoloration to the teeth. It also shows up in tooth sensitivity to hot, cold or both. Another indication of enamel loss is when your teeth become cracked or chipped.
Tips to Strengthen Enamel
There are many enamel strengthening toothpastes and rinses on the market. Colgate, Crest, Arm & Hammer and Sensodyne and other leading manufacturers all make enamel strengthening toothpastes. These specially formulated toothpastes are gentler on teeth that may be sensitive due to enamel loss because they contain less abrasive ingredients than regular toothpaste.3
The American Dental Association (ADA) has given its Seal of Acceptance to four Enamel Erosion Control products including Crest Pro-Health Advanced Antibacterial Protection; Crest Pro-Health Gum and Enamel Restore; Crest Pro-Health Gum and Sensitivity and Crest Pro-Health Gum Detoxify.4
The ADA Seal of Acceptance is based on the finding that the product is safe and has shown efficacy.
Even if you don’t use a product specifically formulated to strengthen tooth enamel, using any toothpaste or rinse with fluoride will help in the fight against tooth decay. Fluoride is “known to markedly improve remineralization of enamel”.5
Take Away
Using an enamel erosion control toothpaste or any toothpaste or rinse with fluoride should also be combined with good oral hygiene habits to be most effective. Brushing twice a day for two minutes at a time using a soft bristled brush and flossing daily are also important activities to maintain strong enamel.
Seeing your dentist on a regular basis is also important, as a dentist can catch any damage to the enamel at an early stage and can advise you on the best ways to improve your oral health.
Check In on Your Dental Health with a Top Rated Dentist
Call our Walled Lake Dental Office to schedule a Free dental consultation and find out how your teeth, smile and oral health are doing. Whether you need dental treatments, tooth restoration, or cosmetic dentistry, our dental clinic is equipped to address a wide range of dental needs.
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1 Tooth Enamel
Link: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24798-tooth-enamel
2 What is a Cavity? by Kelly Burch, 9/5/2023
Link: https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-a-cavity-causes-treatment-prevention-5088575
3, 5 Buying Guide for Best Enamel Toothpaste by Sian Babish, 7/2024
Link: https://reviews.chicagotribune.com/beauty-and-personal-care/toothbrushes/best-enamel-toothpastes?
4 Enamel Erosion Control Products, American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance
Link: https://www.ada.org/resources/research/science/ada-seal-of-acceptance/product-search#sort=%40productname%20ascending&f:@category=[Enamel%20Erosion%20Control]