Every day our teeth are exposed to destructive factors. Enamel - the armor of the teeth - under the influence of these factors may not always resist. It gradually thins out. The tooth begins to decay. Learn how to stop tooth decay in this article.
External and internal causes of enamel destruction
There are many factors that contribute to the decay of our teeth. External factors include:
- Temperature failure or high temperature contrast. If you drink ice water immediately after eating a hot dish, the enamel may not withstand. Cracks appear on its surface, through which bacteria destroying it will get straight into the tooth.
- Mechanical factor, i.e. blows, injuries, the habit of eating very rough food or chewing on hard objects.
- The chemical factor acts quickly and ruthlessly. Some foods or oral care products contain enamel-damaging alkalis and acids.
- Hygiene factor means improper oral carecavity, improper selection of toothpaste or brush, complete lack of oral hygiene.
Internal causes of destruction include:
- Lack of fluoride and calcium.
- Improper nutrition, diets.
- Disruptions at the hormonal level.
- Heredity.
- Effect of any drugs.
Tooth Decay: General Causes
There are also common causes of enamel destruction. They can affect women, men and children:
- Incorrect bite very often leads to the destruction of enamel. You need to solve this issue in the dentist's chair.
- Bruxism – nighttime grinding of teeth also leads to thinning of the enamel, the appearance of chips and cracks on it.
- Dental diseases – if a person has any untreated dental disease, then gradually this will lead to their destruction.
Knowing the causes leading to the destruction of enamel, it is much easier to prevent trouble.
Enamel damage symptoms
Tooth decay does not happen immediately. This is a long process that can be slowed down or stopped. You should pay attention to the slightest change in the oral cavity. What are the symptoms of this phenomenon?
- Enamel is thinning, dentin is visible under it. This means that spots of yellow or brown color appear on the teeth. The thinner the enamel, the darker the color of the crown.
- The enamel gradually softens, which means it becomes rough to the touch.
- The strongerenamel is affected, the brighter the teeth react to cold and hot.
- The process of tooth decay is accompanied by the appearance of chips and cracks on them.
- In a later period of destruction, the pulp, nerve canals may be exposed, the shape of the tooth changes. Eating, and sometimes just opening the mouth, becomes quite painful.
Bacteria, penetrating into the hole, will soon cause pulpitis. If at this moment you do not take up treatment, then complete destruction of the tooth crown will occur. Treatment in this case is long and expensive, because the installation of pins is not an easy process. Pin teeth can consist of various materials, fasten in different ways. Only an experienced dentist can resolve such issues.
Tooth decay in children
Unfortunately, enamel tends to break down not only in adults, but also in children. Already after the child reaches the age of two, obvious symptoms of the disease can be observed. Very often, destruction occurs in children who are bottle-fed.
Mixture often contains too many carbohydrates, which are converted into organic acids in the baby's mouth. They can lead to enamel demineralization, because children's teeth are still so weak. Finding out that demineralization is taking place in the oral cavity is very difficult, because the process is hidden from view.
If a mother's metabolism was disturbed during pregnancy, the child will also suffer from this. Improper nutrition during gestation,severe toxicosis in the first trimester, some previous diseases can lead to problems such as underdevelopment of enamel or abnormal development of the shape of the crown.
Be sure to observe personal hygiene in a house with a small child. Often, parents, without noticing it, spoil the baby's teeth, passing on their pathogenic bacteria to him. You can not share cutlery, lick the pacifier and kiss the child too often on the lips. All of these can cause tooth decay.
Children's saliva has a slight degree of alkali content. This means that saliva cannot perform its mineralizing function. It is for this reason that many children's teeth begin to decay very early.
Why is enamel destroyed in women?
Scientists have found that women's enamel is destroyed more often than men's. This is facilitated not only by general factors, but also by purely female reasons. Among them:
- The period of pregnancy - during this difficult time, the fetus takes everything it needs from the mother's body. And if any microelement or mineral is insufficient for construction, the fetus will "wash" it out of the mother's body. First of all, the teeth suffer. If a woman had dental diseases before pregnancy, then during this period they intensify.
- Dramatic weight loss - it is women who diet most and most stubbornly, avoiding proper nutrition. Sudden weight loss can lead to the destruction of enamel.
- Hormonal failures - during menopause (or whenelevated thyroid function) may disrupt the salivary glands and the entire immune system. This leads to sensitivity and fragility of the enamel.
Why do men's teeth decay?
Of course, men's teeth deteriorate due to common causes. But there are also special factors that are specific to males.
It is in men that the destruction of teeth of a mechanical nature often occurs. This is due to the peculiarities of professions, dangerous sports, and sometimes simple aggressiveness.
Besides, men take care of their teeth less than women, having a habit of opening corks and chewing nuts. Men smoke and drink more alcohol. This leads to demineralization of the enamel.
Prevention of total tooth decay
Enamel destruction in the oral cavity is an unpleasant phenomenon. This spoils the aesthetic appearance of the smile. In addition, bacteria can get into cracks and chips, which can cause additional diseases. How to prevent complete tooth decay?
Be sure to brush your teeth. This must be done regularly, and not on a case-by-case basis. Nobody canceled a visit to the dentist every six months! Get a grip on your habits - don't chew on hard objects, don't bite on threads, don't open lids with your teeth, limit seeds and nuts in your diet.
If you see the slightest change in your mouth, make an appointment with your dentist right away.
To strengthen the enamel, taking vitamins andincrease the dose of food intake of foods containing calcium. Eat more fish, greens and dairy products. You can also visit the dentist and strengthen the teeth in his chair by fluoridation.
How to treat?
Tooth crown destruction is an irreversible process. Therefore, it is always better to take care of your teeth properly, preventing disease. But if the destruction is still there, urgently treat it! How to restore a tooth?
- If you have a small piece of the incisal edge chipped off or crumbling of the teeth is observed, use photopolymer composite extensions.
- If the destruction of the crown is significant, pins or root tabs are used.
- With the help of veneers, you can hide defects in the smile area.
- If the tooth is severely damaged (more than 70%), then the treatment consists only in installing a crown.
- If there is a destruction of the wisdom tooth, then the specialist will most likely prescribe its removal. This tooth does not take part in chewing food, is a potential breeding ground for bacteria, so it makes no sense to save and treat it.
Despite the apparent strength of enamel, there are a huge number of factors that can lead to its destruction. Remember that it is always easier to monitor the condition of your teeth and take care of them properly than to treat them!
