What Tooth Enamel Has to Do with Cavity Prevention

Posted April 28, 2020

There are many different aspects that relate to the health and integrity of your child’s teeth, especially when it comes to preventing things like cavities from developing. However, one of the most important things to remember is that your child’s teeth already have a highly effective defense mechanism – the enamel that surrounds and protects them. Today, we examine the role tooth enamel plays in your child’s continued oral health, and how you can help their smiles healthy by focusing on keeping their teeth and enamel strong.

What exactly is tooth enamel?

Tooth enamel and its role in healthy teeth isn’t exactly a secret. However, with so many tips and mountains advice such as brush and floss your teeth, avoid sugary foods, and more, it’s easy to forget the simple rule of caring for it. Tooth enamel is the outermost layer of a healthy, natural tooth, and it’s your child’s main line of defense against oral bacteria and other things that could damage their main tooth structure. In addition to keeping the surfaces of their teeth clean consistently, children also require a few other things to ensure that their enamel stays healthy and strong enough to protect their teeth.

Why it’s essential to your child’s oral health

The fact that tooth enamel is the main defense of your child’s teeth makes the layer highly important to their oral health. However, caring for it and preventing it from becoming compromised is even more important given the fact that, at a certain point, damaged tooth enamel can no longer recover. Every day, oral bacteria can produce substances like acids that continuously weaken tooth enamel, though your child’s teeth can recover by replenishing their enamel with an ample supply of minerals (such as calcium). It’s also important to remove oral bacteria with daily hygiene before they have a chance to compromised the tooth enamel permanently.

How to help protect your child’s tooth enamel

While weakened tooth enamel can become stronger with better care and maintenance, it can’t repair itself once it develops a hole in its surface. This hole, known as a cavity, occurs when oral bacteria weaken the tooth enamel faster than your child’s teeth can replenish it. Fortunately, good dental hygiene and healthier eating habits can go a long way in helping your child preserve their tooth enamel and avoid the development of a cavity.

Learn more about protecting your child’s teeth

There are a lot of ways you can help your child protect their teeth better, but focusing on strong, healthy tooth enamel is one of the most important ones. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling Pediatric Dental Care at Casa Linda in Dallas, TX today at 214-321-4880. We proudly serve patients who live around Casa Linda and all surrounding Dallas communities.