Things That Take Away Tooth Enamel

Tooth enamel is your body's hardest tissue. It protects your teeth from things like biting, crunching, grinding and chewing. Enamel also shields your teeth from hot and cold temperatures. If your tooth enamel is damaged, your teeth become sensitive, and over time they can appear yellow. You are also at a higher risk for cavities and tooth decay when your enamel is damaged.

Foods and Beverages

• Foods such as lemons, limes and oranges are highly acidic, and the natural acids in these foods eat away at your tooth enamel, leaving irreversible damage. Fruit juice, wine and soda contain citric acid and phosphoric acid, which are both corrosive to your teeth. When you eat starchy or sweet foods, bacteria in your mouth turn the sugars into acid, which damages enamel.

Low Saliva Flow

• The saliva in your mouth helps protect your teeth because it contains minerals and calcium that coats your teeth. It flushes away bacteria and food particles that are left behind in your mouth. Saliva also dilutes acidity in foods and beverages and therefore limits tooth decay. If you have a low saliva flow, your tooth enamel can become damaged more easily. Drinking water or chewing sugar-free gum throughout the day can help combat the effects of low saliva. Low saliva flow can be caused by anything from aging to medications such as antidepressants and medical conditions such as diabetes.

Bulimia Nervosa

• Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder where you consistently binge on food and then purge it to avoid gaining weight. Vomit contains stomach acid. When the acid comes in contact with your teeth, it dissolves the enamel. The teeth crumble, decay and may fall out. To avoid complete deterioration of your teeth, treatment for the eating disorder is available, and a dentist can place crowns over the damaged teeth. Acid reflux and gastrointestinal problems can have a similar affect on your teeth.

Teeth Grinding

• Teeth grinding, also referred to as bruxism, is a condition where you involuntarily clench your teeth together and grind them. Teeth grinding mostly happens while you sleep, but in some people it happens during their waking hours. Tooth-to-tooth friction can cause various dental problems, including chipping of your enamel. Some causes of teeth grinding include high stress levels and anger. Managing these underlying issues may help reduce or eliminate your teeth grinding and help save your enamel.