Home Remedies for Enamel Erosion

Enamel is the outer shell that covers the tooth. Enamel helps protect teeth from the stresses of daily activities like eating, biting etc.  This covering  is tough, and in fact, is the hardest tissue in the body.  Even so, it is still susceptible to chipping and cracking. Enamel also protects the teeth from extreme temperatures and other painful stimuli. This shell can get stained by beverages like coffee, tea, juices and wines. Smoking also stains tooth enamel.  Although there are treatments available for stained enamel, chipped and cracked enamel cannot be repaired.

Why does tooth erosion occur?
The effects of acids on the teeth can cause enamel to wear away. This can happen when you drink excessive quantities of soft drinks. Colas and lemon-based beverages for instance, can contain high levels of citric acid and phosphoric acid. Even fruit-based drinks can have acids that can wear away tooth enamel. People who suffer from acid reflux disease, in which stomach acids are brought back into the mouth, may also suffer from tooth erosion. These stomach acids can be highly corrosive. Persons with a history of xerostomia or dry mouth can have a lower production of saliva in the mouth. Saliva can help wash away acids that can attack tooth enamel.  When there is a reduced quantity of saliva production, these acids are free to attack the enamel.  A high sugar diet is one that includes plenty of starchy foods, like bread and potatoes can also increase the rate of enamel erosion. Certain kinds of medications like antihistamines and aspirin can wear away enamel. In some cases, enamel erosion can occur because of a genetic predisposition.

Treating Tooth Erosion At Home
The best thing you can to treat enamel erosion is to prevent it.

• Make it a habit to rinse your mouth after eating certain foods like tomatoes, lemons, and other citrus fruits.
• Counter the effects of tea, coffee, beverages, and acidic foods by eating plenty of raw greens.
• Sip colas through a straw, and don’t swirl it around your mouth.  Make sure the cola has little contact with your teeth as possible.
• Use fluoridated toothpaste as well as fluoridated dental products to strengthen your teeth.
• Take a teaspoon of sunflower oil, and swirl it in your mouth every morning before breakfast. Don’t swallow the oil.  Spit out after a few minutes. This is a newer remedy for enamel erosion that's catching on.  Sesame oil seems to work just as well, although any other oils are not recommended.  This technique is called oil pulling, and it supposedly has a number of benefits for your teeth, including strengthening the enamel and preventing erosion.
• Brush and floss daily.
• Cut down on snacking, and drink plenty of water.
• Boost saliva production by chewing sugar free gum.
• The biggest fall out of tooth erosion is dental sensitivity. To cope with this, use desensitizing toothpaste.
• Better still, place a small dab of desensitizing tooth paste on the affected spots, and leave it on overnight. Rinse the next morning and repeat for a few weeks. You might notice the sensitivity getting less intense.