1. More Than a Pretty Smile
Healthy, well-cared-for tooth enamel does more than just give you a pretty smile. The outer layer of calcium on the teeth is really a tough substance that protects the underlying roots and layer of the teeth. It is exposed to all the chemicals and roughage in foods and provides first contact for all the heavy chewing in the mouth. Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the whole body.
2. White is Not Right for Everyone
While the dental products industry and Hollywood would have us think that bright white is the only color that should be seen when we smile, it is not necessarily the natural color of enamel for everyone. Genetics play the biggest role in the color of our tooth enamel, because the hue is based on the thickness of the enamel. Tooth enamel can range from a light gray to a light or dark yellow. Other outside forces can change the color of enamel too. Substances such as coffee, tea, carrots and nicotine will discolor the translucent coating.
3. Good Teeth Gone Bad
Tooth decay starts with the breaking down of the minerals that make up the enamel covering. Sugar breaks down to an alkaline acid, which, over time, will begin to wear on the protective enamel coverings and get into the tooth proper. Even small bits of bacteria that get underneath the enamel will begin to rot the underlying tooth. Since the enamel is very hard, it also chips easily. Even very small taps or bumps can crack the enamel and give the bacteria that form in our mouths an entryway to the tooth, creating a cavity.
4. Brushing is Not Enough
Regular brushing, while working well to keep the acids from breaking down the exterior enamel, cannot reach under it to the trapped bacteria in the tooth. That's why it is important to have your teeth cleaned professionally twice a year. A dentist's tools can reach under the tooth and behind the cracks to scrape and clean trapped bacterial problems. X-rays can spot the beginnings of a hole, or cavity, and get it filled before it grows big enough to allow bacteria to get into the roots.
5. Cover It Up
Dental sealants work on the teeth like varnish does on a nice wood tabletop. They coat the enamel with a thin layer of plastic, preventing acid-breakdown and covering the genetic cracks and holes that may be present from the first tooth sighting. Porcelain veneers for adults have been all the rage for those with a thick wallet. The delicate enamel covers can be put on all the teeth to give them a natural, even look, and will last longer than over-the-counter bleaches, which give a temporary fix to enamel discoloration.
