Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFunctionCompositionCauses of Enamel LossEffects of Enamel LossRestoring TeethPreventing Enamel Loss
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Function
Composition
Causes of Enamel Loss
Effects of Enamel Loss
Restoring Teeth
Preventing Enamel Loss
Tooth enamel is the thin covering on the outside layer of your teeth. It provides a hard shell to protect your teeth from cracking and breaking. It also protects the inner layers of your teeth from damage.
Despite being the hardest substance in your body, enamel is vulnerable to damage. Factors such asbacteria, acids, andplaquecan work to eat away at dental enamel. Preventing enamel damage is vital to your dental health. While treatments can help rebuild damaged enamel in the early stages, enamel cannot be replaced if it is lost.
What Is the Main Function of Tooth Enamel?
The main function of tooth enamel is to protect the natural dental crown (the part of your tooth that you can see) from damage and daily wear and tear. Its hard surface serves as the first line of defense for your teeth when performing functions such as biting, chewing, and grinding food when you eat.
Your tooth enamel also serves as an insulating barrier to protect the sensitive nerves in your teeth from extreme temperatures or irritating chemicals.
Keeping your tooth enamel intact is important because it prevents damage to the layers beneath it, which include dentin and pulp.
Dentin
Dentinis the layer just beneath the enamel. Dentin is softer than enamel but harder than the pulp that it protects. It contains microscopic tubules (tubes or canals) that allow heat, cold, or acidic foods to stimulate your tooth’s nerves and cells, causing sensitivity if they are not protected.
Pulp
Pulpis the center layer of your tooth structure. It consists of blood vessels, connective tissue, and nerves. Pulp moisturizes and nourishes your teeth. It also forms dentin. As the softest layer of your teeth, pulp requires the protection of dentin and enamel to maintain tooth health.
Your Mouth Has a Lot to Say About Your Overall Health
What Is Enamel Made Of?
Tooth enamel is made of minerals that work together to protect your teeth. The primary component of enamel is the mineral calcium phosphate, arranged in a crystalline (small crystal) structure known as hydroxyapatite. This rock-hard substance makes up about 96% of enamel.
Other components of tooth enamel include water (about 3%) and nominal amounts ofmagnesium,sodium, carbonate, andfluoride.
What Causes Enamel Loss?
The factors that trigger enamel loss can be intrinsic or extrinsic. Intrinsic factors include characteristics such as age, organ function, comorbid (coexisting) diseases, and other traits that affect how your body performs. Extrinsic factors originate outside your body and include characteristics such as diet, lifestyle, and medications. Some extrinsic factors can be modified.
Intrinsic factors that contribute to dental enamel loss include:
Regurgitation: The stomach acid produced during thedigestive processhas a high acid content to help your body digest food. However, it can also have a corrosive effect on yourteeth and bones. Frequent stomach upset in which the stomach acid is regurgitated and passes into your mouth and over your teeth can gradually wear away your tooth enamel.
However,hyposalivation(a measurable decrease in the amount of saliva produced) can interfere with the protective benefits of saliva. Common causes of hyposalivation include:
External factors that contribute to dental enamel loss include:
High-acidic foods and beverages: Dental erosion is linked to high-acidic foods and drinks. Typically, these products have a pH below 5.7 and may be more likely to trigger dental erosion. The most common sources of dietary enamel loss include:
Environmental causes: Exposure to certain chemicals in your home, environment, or workplace can accelerate enamel loss. The erosive acids in chlorinated swimming pool water, for example, can cause enamel loss.
People who work in certain occupations that involve regular exposure to airborne acidic fumes have an increased risk for loss of dental enamel. These roles include battery plant workers, picklers, and miners. People who work in fertilizer plants and munitions are also at risk.
Medications: Certain over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications can promote dental loss. These medications include:
Bruxism: Bruxism is the grinding or clenching of teeth. It can wear away tooth enamel.
Poor or excessive toothbrushing: Using a stiff-bristled toothbrush rather than one with soft bristles can contribute to dental erosion,as can brushing too often or harshly.
What Happens If Your Enamel Is Gone?
If your enamel is gone, it cannot be replaced. Mature tooth enamel does not contain cells, so it can’t be regenerated like other biomineralized tissues in your body such as dentin and bone. Noticing tooth erosion early can help you identify the problem and consult a dentist as early as possible.
As your enamel erodes, you may notice changes on the biting surfaces, inside surfaces, and edges of your teeth. Tooth enamel loss often involvesone or more of the following signs:
Can Dentists Restore Damaged Tooth Enamel?
While lost tooth enamel can’t be restored, damaged tooth enamel can often be repaired. The type of treatment necessary to restore your damaged tooth enamel depends on the extent of damage present.
Depending on the condition of your teeth, your dentist may advise one of the following treatments to restore damaged tooth enamel:
Restorative treatmentsfor early-stage damaged tooth enamel, which include:
Cosmetic and functional repairof tooth enamel too advanced for restorative treatments includes:
7 Types of Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures
How to Take Care of Your Tooth Enamel
Summary
Tooth enamel is the protective shield that exists on the outer layer of your teeth. It is made of minerals that provide a rock-hard shell over the more vulnerable areas of your teeth. Healthy tooth enamel protects your teeth from breakage, decay, and the effects of extreme heat and cold.
While tooth enamel is strong, it is not invincible. Over time, it can suffer damage from internal and external acid sources. Stomach acid and certain types of foods, drinks, and drugs can damage enamel when they remain on your teeth. Changing to a low-acidic diet and treating health problems can help maintain healthy tooth enamel.
The best way to support your enamel health is to maintain a routine of regular dental visits. Your dentist can see signs of enamel loss in its early stages. This is when the problem may be repaired with the least amount of treatment and expense.
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Dental Association.Dental erosion.DeRocher KA, Smeets PJM, Goodge BH, et al.Chemical gradients in human enamel crystallites.Nature. 2020;583(7814):66-71. doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2433-3Lacruz RS, Habelitz S, Wright JT, Paine ML.Dental enamel formation and implications for oral health and disease.Physiol Rev. 2017;97(3):939-993. doi:10.1152/physrev.00030.2016Mouthhealthy: American Dental Association.Tooth.Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC.What is tooth erosion? Causes, diagnosis, and treatment.Dipalma G, Inchingolo F, Patano A, et al.Dental erosion and the role of saliva: a systematic review.European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences. 2023;27:10651-10660.Mouthhealthy: American Dental Association (ADA).Tooth erosion and acid reflux.Foundation for Oral Rehabilitation.Hyposalivation and xerostomia.Saads Carvalho T, Lussi A.Chapter 9: acidic beverages and foods associated with dental erosion and erosive tooth wear.Monogr Oral Sci. 2020;28:91-98. doi:10.1159/000455376.Hellwig E, Lussi A.Oral hygiene products, medications and drugs - hidden aetiological factors for dental erosion.Monogr Oral Sci. 2014;25:155-162. doi:10.1159/000359942National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Bruxism.Penn Dental Family Practice.Tooth enamel loss: signs, causes, and prevention tips.Humana.Understanding tooth enamel.University of Pennsylvania: My Penn Dentist.How to repair tooth enamel: tips and techniques.American Dental Association.Home oral care.Delta Dental.Enamel: your teeth’s natural defense.
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Dental Association.Dental erosion.DeRocher KA, Smeets PJM, Goodge BH, et al.Chemical gradients in human enamel crystallites.Nature. 2020;583(7814):66-71. doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2433-3Lacruz RS, Habelitz S, Wright JT, Paine ML.Dental enamel formation and implications for oral health and disease.Physiol Rev. 2017;97(3):939-993. doi:10.1152/physrev.00030.2016Mouthhealthy: American Dental Association.Tooth.Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC.What is tooth erosion? Causes, diagnosis, and treatment.Dipalma G, Inchingolo F, Patano A, et al.Dental erosion and the role of saliva: a systematic review.European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences. 2023;27:10651-10660.Mouthhealthy: American Dental Association (ADA).Tooth erosion and acid reflux.Foundation for Oral Rehabilitation.Hyposalivation and xerostomia.Saads Carvalho T, Lussi A.Chapter 9: acidic beverages and foods associated with dental erosion and erosive tooth wear.Monogr Oral Sci. 2020;28:91-98. doi:10.1159/000455376.Hellwig E, Lussi A.Oral hygiene products, medications and drugs - hidden aetiological factors for dental erosion.Monogr Oral Sci. 2014;25:155-162. doi:10.1159/000359942National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Bruxism.Penn Dental Family Practice.Tooth enamel loss: signs, causes, and prevention tips.Humana.Understanding tooth enamel.University of Pennsylvania: My Penn Dentist.How to repair tooth enamel: tips and techniques.American Dental Association.Home oral care.Delta Dental.Enamel: your teeth’s natural defense.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Dental Association.Dental erosion.DeRocher KA, Smeets PJM, Goodge BH, et al.Chemical gradients in human enamel crystallites.Nature. 2020;583(7814):66-71. doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2433-3Lacruz RS, Habelitz S, Wright JT, Paine ML.Dental enamel formation and implications for oral health and disease.Physiol Rev. 2017;97(3):939-993. doi:10.1152/physrev.00030.2016Mouthhealthy: American Dental Association.Tooth.Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC.What is tooth erosion? Causes, diagnosis, and treatment.Dipalma G, Inchingolo F, Patano A, et al.Dental erosion and the role of saliva: a systematic review.European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences. 2023;27:10651-10660.Mouthhealthy: American Dental Association (ADA).Tooth erosion and acid reflux.Foundation for Oral Rehabilitation.Hyposalivation and xerostomia.Saads Carvalho T, Lussi A.Chapter 9: acidic beverages and foods associated with dental erosion and erosive tooth wear.Monogr Oral Sci. 2020;28:91-98. doi:10.1159/000455376.Hellwig E, Lussi A.Oral hygiene products, medications and drugs - hidden aetiological factors for dental erosion.Monogr Oral Sci. 2014;25:155-162. doi:10.1159/000359942National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Bruxism.Penn Dental Family Practice.Tooth enamel loss: signs, causes, and prevention tips.Humana.Understanding tooth enamel.University of Pennsylvania: My Penn Dentist.How to repair tooth enamel: tips and techniques.American Dental Association.Home oral care.Delta Dental.Enamel: your teeth’s natural defense.
American Dental Association.Dental erosion.
DeRocher KA, Smeets PJM, Goodge BH, et al.Chemical gradients in human enamel crystallites.Nature. 2020;583(7814):66-71. doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2433-3
Lacruz RS, Habelitz S, Wright JT, Paine ML.Dental enamel formation and implications for oral health and disease.Physiol Rev. 2017;97(3):939-993. doi:10.1152/physrev.00030.2016
Mouthhealthy: American Dental Association.Tooth.
Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC.What is tooth erosion? Causes, diagnosis, and treatment.
Dipalma G, Inchingolo F, Patano A, et al.Dental erosion and the role of saliva: a systematic review.European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences. 2023;27:10651-10660.
Mouthhealthy: American Dental Association (ADA).Tooth erosion and acid reflux.
Foundation for Oral Rehabilitation.Hyposalivation and xerostomia.
Saads Carvalho T, Lussi A.Chapter 9: acidic beverages and foods associated with dental erosion and erosive tooth wear.Monogr Oral Sci. 2020;28:91-98. doi:10.1159/000455376.
Hellwig E, Lussi A.Oral hygiene products, medications and drugs - hidden aetiological factors for dental erosion.Monogr Oral Sci. 2014;25:155-162. doi:10.1159/000359942
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Bruxism.
Penn Dental Family Practice.Tooth enamel loss: signs, causes, and prevention tips.
Humana.Understanding tooth enamel.
University of Pennsylvania: My Penn Dentist.How to repair tooth enamel: tips and techniques.
American Dental Association.Home oral care.
Delta Dental.Enamel: your teeth’s natural defense.
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