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Protecting Your Enamel

Fri, June 5th, 2020

Protecting Your Enamel

Have you ever met someone for the first time and thought, "that person has beautiful white teeth"? Unless they had them artificially whitened, it just means that they have maintained healthy enamel. Many people start to notice their enamel diminishing at a very young age. Drinking lots of coffee along with other acidic dietary habits play a role in this occurring.

In this blog, we'll describe why it's critical to take care of your enamel, what you can do to maintain it, and how Arnold Dentistry can help you do this.

Importance of Enamel

Did you know, 48% of Americans believe that a person's smile is the most memorable feature after a first encounter? According to multiple studies, the aesthetics of a person's teeth was the most important quality in a smile (color, shape, size of teeth), followed by the shape of the smile and gums.

Not only does the enamel help provide you with a nice smile, but it protects the inner layers of your teeth from being damaged by acidic foods. Enamel CAN NOT be restored because it contains no living cells, so it is critical to maintain while you have it.

How to Maintain Your Enamel

If you're worried about losing the enamel on your teeth, try following these tips:

  1. After eating, give your teeth about 30 minutes to reduce the acid and neutralize the bacteria before brushing for the best results.
  2. Use a straw when enjoying acidic drinks (don't swish around in mouth).
  3. If you're eating an acidic food, have cheese, milk, or another non-acidic food or drink something with it.
  4. Brush twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush.

Following these four steps will greatly increase the chances of maintaining your enamel, helping sustain a healthy mouth and white teeth.

Arnold Dentistry

Another important step in maintaining tooth enamel is visiting your dentist every six months for a cleaning. But if you have an event coming up or would simply like to have your teeth a little whiter for the summer, Arnold Dentistry also offers teeth whitening services.

To schedule a cleaning or inquire about any of our procedures, give us a call today!

(813) 689-1529

Sources: Aesthetic teeth, AACD, pronamel