Tooth enamel is the thin covering on the outside layer of your teeth.
It provides a hard shell to protect your teeth from cracking and breaking.
It also protects the inner layers of your teeth from damage.
Illustration by Tara Anand for Verywell Health
Despite being the hardest substance in your body, enamel is vulnerable to damage.
Factors such asbacteria, acids, andplaquecan work to eat away at dental enamel.
Preventing enamel damage is vital to your dental health.
Illustration by Tara Anand for Verywell Health
What Is the Main Function of Tooth Enamel?
Dentin
Dentinis the layer just beneath the enamel.
Dentin is softer than enamel but harder than the pulp that it protects.
Pulp
Pulpis the center layer of your tooth structure.
It consists of blood vessels, connective tissue, and nerves.
Pulp moisturizes and nourishes your teeth.
It also forms dentin.
What Is Enamel Made Of?
Tooth enamel is made of minerals that work together to protect your teeth.
This rock-hard substance makes up about 96% of enamel.
What Causes Enamel Loss?
These acids are not bacterial but originate from your gut or the foods and beverages you consume.
The factors that trigger enamel loss can be intrinsic or extrinsic.
Extrinsic factors originate outside your body and include characteristics such as diet, lifestyle, and medications.
Some extrinsic factors can be modified.
However, it can also have a corrosive effect on yourteeth and bones.
It also washes these naturally occurring acids out of your mouth through swallowing.
Typically, these products have a pH below 5.7 and may be more likely to trigger dental erosion.
The erosive acids in chlorinated swimming pool water, for example, can cause enamel loss.
These roles include battery plant workers, picklers, and miners.
People who work in fertilizer plants and munitions are also at risk.
Medications: Certain over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications can promote dental loss.
These medications include:
Bruxism: Bruxism is the grinding or clenching of teeth.
It can wear away tooth enamel.
What Happens If Your Enamel Is Gone?
If your enamel is gone, it cannot be replaced.
Noticing tooth erosion early can help you identify the problem and consult a dentist as early as possible.
While lost tooth enamel can’t be restored, damaged tooth enamel can often be repaired.
The bang out of treatment necessary to restore your damaged tooth enamel depends on the extent of damage present.
Taking care of your tooth enamel begins with properoral hygiene.
It is made of minerals that provide a rock-hard shell over the more vulnerable areas of your teeth.
Healthy tooth enamel protects your teeth from breakage, decay, and the effects of extreme heat and cold.
While tooth enamel is strong, it is not invincible.
Over time, it can suffer damage from internal and external acid sources.
Changing to a low-acidic diet and treating health problems can help maintain healthy tooth enamel.
The best way to support your enamel health is to maintain a routine of regular dental visits.
Your dentist can see signs of enamel loss in its early stages.
This is when the problem may be repaired with the least amount of treatment and expense.
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