Posts for tag: Enamel Erosion
What's more refreshing on a hot day or when your are thirsty than an ice-cold pop or sport's drink? Although these beverages may quench your thirst, a recent study has now shown that they can quicky damage the enamel coating on your teeth!
Enamel is the hard-white substance that forms the outer protective part of the tooth. It is the hardest substance in the human body, even stronger than bone. Its resilient surface is 96 percent mineral, the highest percentage of any body tissue, making it durable and damage-resistant. The enamel acts as a barrier to protect the soft inner layers of the tooth, but can become susceptible to thinning by acids and sugars found in all pop and energy drinks.
Enamel erosion occurs when the tooth enamel is overexposed to excessive consumption of acidic and sugary food and drinks, like sipping on drinks overtime. The loss of enamel, if left untreated, can lead to various tooth conditions including stains, fractures, sensitivity, and translucence. Researchers observed that the surface roughness of the tooth enamel increased significantly as the immersive contact of the beverage increased. In other words, the longer it takes to consume a beverage, the more enamel erosion or thinning occurred. In addition, the research team also found that preferential etching or thinning in scratched tooth enamel occurred more quickly. Brushing your teeth too hard and using toothpastes with polishing particles that are advertized to remove dental biofilms, like some whitening products, can cause scratches on the enamel surfaces, which leads to more rapid areas of enamel erosion!
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