How to Recognize Tooth Enamel Loss
Tooth enamel is the dental tissue of the tooth that is normally visible and is supported by the underlying dentin. It is the hardest substance in the body and is 96 percent mineral. The high degree of mineralization in tooth enamel makes it prone to dental caries, a demineralization process commonly known as cavities. The following steps will show how to recognize tooth enamel loss.
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Instructions
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Notice an increase in your tooth sensitivity. Heat and cold are transmitted through the dentin to the nerve of the tooth more easily when the protective enamel of a tooth is lost.
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Check for receding gums. Enamel can be eroded by improper brushing or gum disease, causing the gums to recede. V-shaped notches near the gum line can indicate abrasion of the enamel due to excessive brushing. Overuse of a toothpick can cause notches of eroded enamel between the teeth.
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3
Look for chipped fractured teeth that may cause the dentin to be immediately exposed. Chronic teeth clenching or grinding can cause the grinding surface of the molars to be characteristically flat.
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Review your eating habits for sugar consumption. Exposure of the teeth to sugar can produce an acid that may erode the enamel. This is the most common cause of enamel loss.
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Get a dental exam if loss of tooth enamel is expected. A dentist can detect soft spots in the enamel by probing the teeth with an instrument. An X-ray can confirm the loss of enamel.
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