How Hard are Your Teeth?

Did you know that tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the entire human body? Teeth are packed with a dense amount of hydroxyapatite crystals, which makes them even stronger than human bone.

Softer Inner Layers of Teeth

Not every part of a tooth is hard. Once you get through the outer shell of enamel — which only covers the crown, or area above the gum lines — you reach the dentin and then the pulp (nerve tissues,) which are much softer. Once a cavity creeps through the strong tooth enamel and reaches dentin, the decay spreads quickly and widely. Why? Because dentin is weaker and less dense.

What About Baby Teeth?

Compared to adult teeth, baby (primary) teeth are much weaker. They lack the inner dentin structure and are made to resorb when pressed against by adult teeth, which allows them to “shrink” into a shell over time before falling out. As such, they’re usually more prone to fractures of tooth decay.

What Damages Strong Enamel?

Although tooth enamel is strong, it’s still susceptible to certain things that can permanently damage your smile. Here are a few examples:

Wear (Bruxism): When teeth wear against other teeth abnormally — whether it’s due to a misaligned bite or a clenching and grinding habit like bruxism — your enamel will suffer. Gradually, the teeth will develop jagged or sharp edges, before getting flatter over time. Adjusting how healthy teeth bite together can help to eliminate unwanted wear.

 Aggressive Tooth Brushing: Always use a soft bristled toothbrush when you clean your teeth, and only place just enough pressure to make the tissues blanch. Anything more than that — or using moderate to stiff bristled brushes — can physically wear notches into your enamel.

 Acids, Plaque, Sugar, and Carbs: As you probably guessed, enamel is also susceptible to elements that cause cavities. A cavity is a physical “hole” inside of the tooth, due to bacteria and acids eating their way through the enamel..

Keeping Your Smile Strong

Fortunately, there are ways to keep your teeth strong and resistant against wear or cavities. Options like regular fluoride treatments, nightguards, or orthodontic therapy are just a few examples.

Call Smyrna Family Dentistry today to see how we can help keep your teeth strong!