We all brush our teeth three times a day, floss daily and take proper oral health care but there are other things you need to know about your teeth. This know-how will encourage more on further taking care of your teeth.

1) Enamel is the hardest substance in a human’s body
Your body contains a tough shell that is the hardest tissue in a human’s body. This covers the crown that is visible outside the gums.
Enamel protects your teeth from mouth activities such as eating, biting, chewing and grinding. It provides protection from extreme temperatures and chemicals exposed to the teeth. Unlike bones which can be replaced, tooth enamel cannot be repaired once it is chipped or broken because it has no living cells on it. Bulimia and acid reflux is the most common cause of tooth enamel erosion. Thus, proper oral health care is recommended in order to avoid tooth enamel erosion and damages.

2) Damaging teeth after eating
Brushing your teeth after eating will possibly scratch acid into slightly softened enamel. The saliva has the ability to neutralize the pH level in our mouth so make sure to drink a glass of water and wait at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth. Study revealed in 2004 that people who brushed within 20 minutes after taking in acidic foods and beverages lost more dentin which is a layer under the enamel. Therefore, it is recommended to wait for at least 30 minutes to let the acid neutralization occur before cleaning the teeth.

3) Dry mouth often leads to tooth decay
Xerostomia or dry mouth is associated with salivary gland hypofunction leading to reduced amount of saliva output in the mouth. This often leads to oral health problems like tooth decay. Dry mouth lacks the watery substance which protects the teeth from the elements taken in into our mouth. This watery substance or saliva is composed of 98% water and 2% electrolytes, mucus and various enzymes. Saliva has the ability of neutralizing the acid through food intake and the lack or reduction of it leads to cavities and tooth decay. Thus, one must start doing a frequent habit of drinking water and avoid activities causing severe dry mouth.

If you are interested to obtain more information about proper oral health care and treatments from a dental clinic in Bangkok, Thailand, please feel free to contact us.