The outer layer of your teeth consists of enamel which is a white substance that protects your teeth against physical and chemical damage. It is one of the toughest and the hardest tissue in the human body. It is believed to be tougher than bone. It is made mostly of a mineral called hydroxyapatite which also contains smaller amounts of similar minerals. The natural color of enamel varies from light yellow to grayish white as it is semi-translucent. The fact is that the color of the inner area of the tooth contributes to its overall appearance.

Enamel is considered as the first defense for your teeth against different chemicals. When your teeth are exposed to food and bodily fluids, enamel protects them completely. That’s why it is highly prone to wear and tear. This is known as enamel erosion. There are several symptoms caused by enamel erosion like tooth stains and sensitivity. Tooth enamel can’t be regrown, but you can prevent erosion from getting worse with the help of dentists in McKinney. They will provide you the best possible treatment and take care of your teeth.

Enamel decays in stages when a cavity starts building up, so taking early action can prevent it from developing. Tooth enamel is a hard and mineralized coating. It protects your pulp and dentin, which are the soft inner layers of the tooth. But when bacterial acids start attacking the enamel, it changes the color of the enamel. This is the first sign of enamel decay.

There are no living cells in enamel, that’s the reason why you don’t feel the first effects of the decay. It slowly breaks down due to acid erosion, and when it completely wears away, it does not grow back.

Stages of Enamel Decay

In the early stages, enamel decay is reversible. It could lead to cavities soon which could only be treated by a dentist. The lactic acid from bacteria breaks down the minerals in your enamel and it turns the color of your teeth to white or causes white patches. But unfortunately, it is not the white you want. At this stage, by improving your oral health habits and through proper treatments, you can prevent the decay from progressing.

In the second and third stages of enamel decay, the affected area goes light brown and then dark brown. In the end, the enamel weakens and completely disappears exposing acids to the soft inner part of the tooth and develop a cavity. This cavity grows bigger and the tooth can become painful.

Preventing Enamel Decay

As already mentioned, tooth enamel cannot regrow, but it can be remineralized at its residual points with the help of fluoride.

Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. It gives your teeth regular exposure to fluoride along with flossing to keep your teeth free from plaque and other harmful acids. You can visit your dentist to provide similar fluoride treatments to further protect the teeth and remineralize enamel.