The results of white and shiny teeth form from the enamel. Enamel is the outer protective layer of teeth that forms the whiteness in your teeth to help you keep a shiny smile. If your enamel is weak, this can undermine the shine in your teeth and discolour your smile. As part of good oral care, looking after enamel is important to maintain positive oral health.
With General Dentistry, there are many ways in which you can keep your enamel clean and strong for long-lasting white results.
The Five Tips
Follow these tips on how to keep your enamel healthy:
- Limit Your Sugar Intake – Sugar is one of the key fundamentals that degrade your enamel and hence degrade your smile. Consuming sugary food and drink leads to bacteria forming in your mouth, which dissolve into acidic particles to wear away at your enamel. Consider reducing your sugar intake and drink more plain water as part of a balanced diet.
- Eat Enamel-Rich Foods – Enamel-Rich foods include foods that contain calcium and fibre. These two ingredients help to keep your bones and teeth strong. Other foods include milk, cheese and boiled vegetables.
- Positive Oral Hygiene – Overall, positive oral hygiene leads to positive oral health. Maintain positive oral health habits by brushing and flossing regularly twice a day, rinse your mouth after a heavy meal and sleep with a dental mouthguard or Invisalign clear aligners to protect your teeth at night. Strong, white teeth deliver a long-lasting positive impression
- Brush and Floss Regularly – As part of your oral hygiene, using mild-abrasive toothpaste when brushing teeth helps to minimize any cavities and keep your enamel strong. Bacteria can linger around in your tongue as well and it is important to brush your tongue. The saliva produced after brushing teeth helps with demineralization with minerals gained to strengthen your teeth.
- Do Not Over-Brush – Use a soft-bristle brush to brush teeth but ensure you don’t brush too hard. Gently stroke your teeth up and down at a medium tempo. If you’ve eaten a heavy meal or have consumed sugar, wait at least an hour to brush for the acidic particles to settle. Brushing straight after consuming sugary treats can damage your enamel further.
Your enamel can erode if you suffer from tooth decay. Read here to learn how a dental filling could cure it
Concluding Thoughts…
Enamel is an integral part of teeth. It helps protect from decay and whilst wear-and-tear is normal, there are ways to ensure your enamel is strong for white and healthy teeth.
Do you suffer from tooth decay, discoloration or oral sensitivity? These are signs of weak enamel. Click here to check yourself in with dentists in Woden today for treatment.