In the quest to maintain dental health and strong teeth, patients will run into a variety of difficulties and threats along the way. Most patients already understand that their teeth at are risk of developing cavities—infections which weak the strength of the tooth and can least to tooth loss and overall oral infection. But what leads to these cavities? And how can patients take steps every day to protect their smiles from infections?

Our Westfield dentists have found that many patients have been told that sweets and junk food can increase your risk of cavities and damaged teeth. This is definitely, true, but it’s important to keep in mind that many adult patients find their teeth compromised by something called acid erosion.

Acid erosion occurs when dental enamel is depleted and thinned due to regular and prolonged exposure to acidic substances. Common acidic substances such as fruit, fruit juices, and carbonated beverages may weaken enamel over time. Patients suffering from acid erosion can have increased dental sensitivity as well as compromised dental health.

The good news is that you don’t need to avoid these substances all together in order to keep your sparkling smile. There are certain steps you can take in your daily hygiene routine in order to protect your teeth from acid erosion.

Use a straw when consuming acidic liquids. A straw will prevent many of your teeth from being coated with the acidic beverage.

Rinse your mouth with water after consuming an acidic substance. It’s better to rinse directly after eating or drinking, and brush in the morning and afternoon. If you brush right after eating or drinking an acidic substance, you may unintentionally wear away dental enamel while it’s still in its weakened state.

The most important thing to do is to meet with a dental professional for regular dental cleanings at least twice a year. At these cleanings your dentist will evaluate the state of your teeth and help you determine if you need to take additional steps to protect your teeth from dental erosion. Feel free to give our Westfield dental office a call for more information!

In our Westfield dental office, our patients generally come to us already understanding that they should brush and floss regularly to avoid cavities. It is our goal as dentists to then help our patients understand why and how dental decay progresses, so that they not only know what they should do to keep their teeth healthy, but also why they should do it. This educational component of our practice allows patients to take more control over their own teeth, and keep a healthier smile between dental check-ups.

Many patients think of cavities as dark spots on otherwise white teeth. Dental decay is much more than a cosmetic concern, however, because if left untreated cavities can infect the inner core of a tooth and cause irreversible damage to a patient’s smile.

The white outer layer of a tooth is called the dental enamel (this is the dental layer that many of us associate with healthy teeth). Dental enamel is hard and less porous than the other layers of the teeth, so it is the first line of defense in protecting the tooth.

Below the dental enamel is a layer of dentin, which is slightly yellower or darker than dental enamel. Dentin is also a protective layer for the tooth. However, dentin is more porous than enamel, meaning that disease and decay can more rapidly through dentin than the outer enamel layer.

Both the enamel and dentin protect the inner core of the tooth—the dental pulp. Dental pulp is comprised of nerves, tissues, and blood vessels that feed the tooth and keep it healthy. The dental pulp, once infected, is incredibly painful, and can cause further infection of dental tissues and bone.

Preventing surface cavities (those on the dental enamel), therefore, is important to the overall health and wellbeing of an affected tooth. Preventing cavities and treating dental decay in its earliest stages can prevent tooth loss and painful infections. Give our Westfield dentists a call if you’d like more information or to schedule an appointment. Your dental health is our priority!