{"id":17,"date":"2020-07-16T16:24:12","date_gmt":"2020-07-16T16:24:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.signaturesmilesatedison.com\/blog\/?p=17"},"modified":"2020-07-16T16:24:14","modified_gmt":"2020-07-16T16:24:14","slug":"dentist-in-edison-enamel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.signaturesmilesatedison.com\/blog\/2020\/07\/16\/dentist-in-edison-enamel\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Tooth Enamel Last the Rest of Your Life?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in your body, but it faces all kinds of threats inside your mouth. It\u2019s exposed to incredible stress whenever you change your food, and it routinely endures attacks from bacteria and acids. And yet, it is completely possible for the enamel you were born with to last the rest of your life \u2013 especially when you and your dentist in Edison take the necessary steps to protect it. Read on to learn how tooth enamel stays intact for a lifetime as well as what you can do to give it even better protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

How Tooth Enamel Maintains Itself<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Enamel doesn\u2019t contain any living cells, so it can\u2019t heal itself when broken. Despite that, it still has a few ways to ensure its own longevity. One study in the Nature Communications<\/a> <\/em>took a closer look at the enamel\u2019s structure. It essentially consists of a number of rods that are made out of hydroxyapatite crystals. Said crystals are oriented in such a way that improves the enamel\u2019s ability to respond to stress. Specifically, they are aligned at small angles (most commonly at 1 degree) that stops cracks from spreading to different crystals. In other words, any damage done to part of the enamel is prevented from spreading at the nanoscale. This is why you can use your teeth to bite and chew every day without fear of them breaking (although you still have to be careful around particularly hard foods).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Importance of Remineralization<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even though the enamel can\u2019t actively repair itself, that doesn\u2019t mean that it has no way to reverse any damage that occurs. Small bits of enamel are lost every day due to acid attacks and other forms of erosion, but the minerals can be replaced. Saliva washes away harmful substances and neutralizes acids while also supplying the teeth with calcium and phosphate that can be used for remineralization. Fluoride also plays a key role in protecting the teeth from decay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How You Can Protect Your Enamel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Despite the natural layers of protection your enamel enjoys, you\u2019ll have the best chance of making it last for a lifetime if you\u2019re proactive about your oral health. To keep your enamel safe, be sure to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n