Enamel is the shiny, white outer surface of your tooth that protects its inner layers. Because tooth enamel contains no living cells, once it’s gone, your body can’t repair damage from enamel wear on its own.1,2 The good news is, it’s possible to strengthen and restore enamel that’s been weakened by acid erosion by making the right oral care and dietary changes.
Learn more about how you can help strengthen your enamel to prevent erosion below.
What Causes Teeth to Lose Enamel?
Enamel can need repairing for a variety of reasons, but one of the most common causes of tooth enamel loss is acid erosion caused by certain foods and drinks. These acids attack your tooth enamel, wearing away the minerals that keep it strong, which is why you should protect your enamel.3
Typical signs of tooth enamel loss are:3,4,5
- Discolored, yellowing teeth
- Rounded edges to your teeth (due to surface loss)
- Tooth pain or sensitivity
Acid erosion can weaken tooth enamel over time but, thankfully, it is possible to encourage weakened tooth enamel to strengthen and actively repair. This process is called remineralization.3,4
How Does Tooth Remineralization Work?
Think of your mouth as a battleground between the ‘bad guys’ – the acids that remove minerals from tooth enamel in a process called demineralization – and the ‘good guys’ – saliva, your body’s natural defense against acid erosion. Saliva, which contains minerals such as calcium and phosphate, helps to reverse microscopic acid damage in a process called ‘remineralization’.6
Learn more about how remineralization can reharden and strengthen enamel.
How to Repair Tooth Enamel and Prevent Tooth Enamel Erosion
Tooth Enamel Repair – Fact vs Fiction
- FACT: Drink more water. Drinking water with fluoride helps to rinse away and neutralize dietary acids, and helps to increase saliva production.5,7
- FACT: Chew sugar-free gum after eating. Chewing gum is a great tool to help weakened tooth enamel repair because it boosts that all-important saliva production. Be sure to look for sugar-free gums with the ADA Seal of Acceptance.7
- FACT: Consume soda, sports drinks and fruit juices in moderation. These beverages are all highly acidic and can wear away enamel.3
- FICTION: Brush your teeth immediately after eating. Wait one hour after having any acidic foods or drinks before you brush. This will give your saliva a chance to do its job: naturally wash away acids and start rehardening your enamel.3 Ideally, use an enamel-strengthening toothpaste such as Pronamel Intensive Enamel Repair Extra Fresh.
- FACT: Dairy and fiber-rich fruits and vegetables are good for teeth.7Fiber-rich foods don’t just help to keep your teeth and gums clean, they also help to increase essential saliva flow. The calcium and phosphates in dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt can help to remineralize and rebuild your acid-weakened enamel.
- FACT: Use a soft toothbrush when brushing your teeth. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush gently twice a day for at least two minutes.8
- FACT: : Pronamel toothpaste protects against the effects of enamel erosion and helps to strengthen acid-weakened tooth enamel.* Pronamel helps minerals penetrate deep into the enamel surface, actively strengthening and rehardening acid-weakened enamel every time you brush. Pronamel is the number one dentist-recommended brand for strengthening and protecting enamel.
Make sure you go for regular dental checkups to keep your tooth enamel healthy and your smile bright. Find out where to buy Pronamel toothpaste to help keep your teeth healthy.
*With twice-daily brushing.
