Tooth Enamel FAQs

Have you heard of tooth enamel? Chances are that you have, if not, then you just did! Do you know much about tooth enamel? Many people do not, if you don't, you're about to! 

What is tooth enamel? Enamel, essentially, is the hard stuff on the outside of your teeth that protects your teeth. Tooth enamel is one of the hardest and highly mineralized substances of our bodies. It makes sense that the enamel has to be so strong since we eat and drink so many things throughout our lives and we even use our teeth as tools, like to hold a pencil. We pass a lot of sugars and other things, even bacteria, over our teeth so their protection has to be incredibly strong. 

Tooth enamel is one of the four tissues that make up our teeth. The three other parts of your teeth are the dentin (yellow stuff), the cementum, and then the pulp (the inner most part of the tooth, like its heart); the tissues of the teeth go in that order from out to in. When you see someone's teeth, you are looking at their enamel, unless they have lost their enamel, which case you'd be looking at decreased enamel and likely some dentin. 

Tooth enamel is strong but it is not impenetrable. It can be broken and even removed, this is called enamel erosion. There are several things that can contribute to enamel erosion: not taking care of your teeth, eating and drinking foods and beverages with lots of acid (the acid weakens the enamel and then it can be brushed away), chewing on things like pencils and pens can crack the enamel, and quick exposure to hot and cold beverages and food (taking a bite of hot pizza and then a drink of a cold beverage causes quick expansion and shrinkage of enamel; this puts stress on it and can crack it, same for vice versa- cold then hot).

 Exposure to acid on the enamel can be intrinsic (inside the body) or extrinsic (outside the body). Those who experience intrinsic exposure typically suffer from gastric reflux or persistent vomiting. Extrinsic can be soda, citrus juices and foods, alcohol, etc. 

You can help minimize the exposure by limiting your consumption of these acidic foods and drinks. Also developing a good oral hygiene practice by brushing for 2 minutes, flossing, and rinsing with a mouthwash. Also, using a toothpaste that is meant to restrengthen enamel will do wonders. 

If you have any questions, then contact Rubino Dentistry. We are a dental practice in Chicagoland. As a Park Ridge dental office, we see people of all ages and see plenty of enamel erosion.  

Basic Dental Terminology

A lot of the words that we use to describe teeth and the mouth as dentists are much more complicated than the ones that are used by non-dentists. So what are some of these words that make up dental terminology?

• Human dentition: this means the teeth that are located in the lower and upper jaws. So, when you hear or read this word, it basically means all your teeth. 
• Maxillae: this is the upper jaw. 
• Maxillary teeth: these teeth are part of the maxillae that are the arch, so they are in the front. 
• Mandible: this is the lower jaw. 
• Mandibular teeth: These teeth are located on the lower jaw. 
• Primary dentition: this is the first group of teeth we get as humans. They are commonly called "baby teeth" and there are 20 of them. 
• Permanent dentition: this is the second group of teeth we get as humans. They are commonly called our "adult teeth" and there are 32 of them. 
• Posterior: this is the area that is towards the back of the mouth. 
• Anterior: this is the area towards the front of the mouth. 
• Mesial: this is the middle, or midline. 
• Distal: This is away from the midline of your mouth. 
• Buccal: This is the cheek area of your mouth. 
• Lingual: This is the tongue area. 
• Facial: This is the area that is on your cheek or lip side of your mouth. 
• Palatal: This is the tongue side of your maxillary teeth. 
• Occlusal: This is the area of the mouth that are the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. 
• Incisal: This is the area of the mouth that are the biting surfaces of your front teeth. 

Now, you may not be a dentist in Park Ridge like me but at least now you know some basic dental terminology.