Tooth enamel

Teeth are covered with a specific hard substance that is extremely resistant to wear. Tooth enamel covers another layer – dentin, and protects it from external factors. What do you need to know about tooth enamel to keep your teeth healthy?

Properties of tooth enamel

The surface coating of the tooth is the hardest substance in the human body. This can be explained by the high degree of mineralization - the content of inorganics in the enamel reaches 97%, with a water content of up to 3%.

The hardness of tooth enamel is determined to be 397.6 kg/mm², which corresponds to approximately 400-500 units on the Vickers scale.

In different areas of the tooth, the enamel has different thicknesses. On the chewing side, its layer is thinner, and on the lateral sides, it is somewhat thicker. The thinnest coating is at the very edge of the gum.

The enamel layer is a protective shield that covers the rest of the tooth. Thanks to it, a person does not experience pain when eating and drinking. Those who have encountered such unpleasant phenomena as thinning and demineralization know what unpleasant sensations arise when this upper layer is damaged.

Indeed, the enamel coating is quite fragile and wears off over time. In most cases, this happens due to improper nutrition. Wear is facilitated by:

• frequent consumption of soda, packaged juices, sweets;
• use of a brush with hard bristles, as well as toothpastes with a whitening effect;
• lack of minerals, particularly phosphorus and calcium;
• eating food that is too hard.

Thus, the main properties of the enamel coating are considered to be:

• protection of the tooth body from physical, chemical and temperature damage;
• providing the function of biting and grinding food.

Thin tooth enamel does not have the listed properties in full: cracks and caries often form on it, which causes pain and tooth sensitivity.

The healthy surface layer ranges in color from milky white to yellowish. However, in reality, the enamel coating is translucent, and the dentin provides the tooth's color background.

Composition and structure of tooth enamel

The enamel coating is represented by multi-type apatites, among which hydroxyapatite plays the main role.

The inorganic coating has the following composition in percentage terms:

• hydroxyapatite 75%;
• carbonapatite 12%;
• chlorapatite more than 4%;
• fluorapatite less than 1%;
• calcium carbonate more than 1%;
• magnesium carbonate more than 1.5%.

The total amount of calcium reaches 37%, and phosphorus – 17%. This balance has a huge impact on the quality of enamel. The mineral composition is not constant and can change under the influence of both external and internal factors.

Calcium in tooth enamel performs one of the main functions. Hard layers mostly contain this mineral. The first sign of calcium deficiency is loosening of teeth and development of caries.

Metabolic processes occur not only in the body as a whole, but also in the teeth in particular. Salt exchange is constantly taking place, especially in the tooth enamel. Saliva also plays a major role here, supplying calcium ions to the surface of the coating.

The organic matter in the coating is represented by proteins, fats and carbohydrates. The content of proteins and fats is 0.5% and 0.6%, respectively.

Among other things, the surface layer contains citrates and a small proportion of polysaccharides.

The main link in the formation of the enamel coating are specific prisms, about 5 microns in size. They have a sinuous shape, and their length exceeds the thickness of the surface layer. The cluster of prisms has an S-shaped configuration, which forms a series of dark and light stripes on the sections. This is a reflection of mineral deposits.

Also in the surface layer, lamellar, bundle-shaped and spindle-shaped structures are distinguished, which represent lamellae and processes of odontoblasts.

The crystalline elements of the coating are considered to be the largest crystals present in the solid tissues of the human body. They have dimensions of approximately 160:60:26 nm. Around each crystal there is a hydrate capsule, which is surrounded by proteins and a fat layer.

The total amount of water in the enamel coating is less than 4%.

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The Importance of Calcium in Tooth Enamel

As we have already said, calcium is the main ingredient of the enamel coating. It enters the body from the outside - from drinking liquid and food. For example, a sufficient amount of calcium is contained in cabbage, potatoes, buckwheat, dairy products, mineral water. Calcium ions are supplied to the dental layers through saliva. Moreover, the more of these ions, the harder the enamel will be.

Additional sources of calcium can be:

• special pastes with high calcium content;
• medicinal liquids for dental treatment, balms;
• mineral preparations for oral administration.

People who live in regions with an initial mineral deficiency should especially monitor their calcium levels. These are often northern regions, where taking supplements is considered mandatory.

Tooth enamel shades: what do they mean?

The shade of tooth enamel is determined before a person is born and is genetically determined. However, during life, the color of the tooth surface can change, which often indicates either bad habits or health problems.

• Yellow tooth enamel may indicate impaired liver and bile duct function. However, yellowness is most often a sign of such a bad habit as smoking.
• Brown enamel color is a sure symptom of weak immune defenses of the body.
• A pearlescent sheen is typical for people with chronic anemia.
• If your teeth have changed color to milky, this may be a sign of problems with the thyroid gland.
• Mineral deficiency often manifests itself as spots or dark lines on the surface of the teeth. The same symptom is observed with long-term use of antibiotics.
• The shade of enamel can also depend on the composition of food products. All kinds of dyes can affect the color of both teeth and tongue. In most cases, after cleaning, teeth acquire their natural appearance. Coloring products include: strong teas and coffee drinks, dark wines, packaged juices, dishes with berries, sweet sodas, lollipops, etc.

Remineralization of tooth enamel

There are many different methods to maintain the strength and function of enamel. Thus, the method of remineralization of tooth enamel is the regeneration of damaged areas, saturating them with minerals.

Remineralization begins as early as possible, at the stage of laying and saturation of teeth with minerals, or during eruption. It is logical to begin treatment no later than at the age of 6.

Enamel actively extracts the substances it needs from the salivary fluid, even if their content is insignificant. This makes it possible to use all sorts of remineralizing preparations that are useful for the strength of the tooth surface.

Among such preparations, those containing fluorine, phosphorus, and calcium compounds are used. The effect of a solution with a Ca concentration of 1 mm activates crystalline growth. A concentration of 3 mm provokes nucleation, which inhibits remineralization in the underlying layers.

Remineralization is considered effective if the condition of the teeth has improved, milk spots on the surface of the teeth have disappeared, and there are no new foci of caries.

How does tooth enamel destruction occur?

• The enamel coating deteriorates quite slowly: over the course of 10-15 years.
• The front teeth are the first to be damaged.
• Enamel does not deteriorate without an apparent reason: damage is always preceded by some disease or condition.
• Along with the visible destruction of the outer layer, other symptoms are also present, such as pain and increased tooth sensitivity.

Among the main causes of gradual tooth decay are considered to be poor nutrition, starvation, bad habits and some chronic diseases that lead to a deficiency of minerals in the body.

One of these diseases is considered to be tooth enamel dysplasia – a violation of tissue mineralization, mainly of a congenital nature. Dysplasia is a relatively general concept that implies three variants of the disease:

• Staton-Capdepont disease is a hereditary darkening of the tooth enamel. In this disease, the teeth erupt as usual, but the enamel has a brown tint and is unusually thin. The darkening is caused by the presence of blood decay products that fill the dilated dentin canals;
• amelogenesis is a violation of the orientation of microprisms with an increase in the distance between them. The clinic is characterized by the presence of thin "wrinkled" enamel, a change in its shade, a decrease in the volume of teeth. Gradually, the enamel coating disappears completely;
• dentinogenesis is a pathological change in dentin. In this case, the connection between dentin and enamel becomes fragile, which inevitably leads to damage to the surface coating. The shade of the dentition changes towards amber.

Among other chronic diseases that occur with damage to the surface layer, pathological abrasion of tooth enamel is also distinguished. This is one of the types of non-carious dental pathology, in which gradual abrasion of enamel occurs on one or several teeth simultaneously. As pathological abrasion progresses, sharp elements of the enamel coating are formed at the extreme borders, injuring the mucous membranes of the oral cavity. If the pathology is not treated in a timely manner, the affected tooth becomes lower, the bite changes, and the process of chewing food worsens.

In addition to dysplasia and darkening, there are other defects of dental enamel, for example:

• hypoplasia and hyperplasia;
• wedge-shaped defect;
• raid;
• erosion of dental enamel;
• necrosis of dental tissue.

Each of the listed diseases has its own etiology, and timely treatment will prevent progressive destruction of the enamel layer.

Protection of tooth enamel

Is it possible to create additional protection or even restore tooth enamel? Indeed, there are a sufficient number of ways to strengthen the surface layer. For example, fluoridation of tooth enamel is the application of special fluoride-containing substances. Fluoridation is a relatively inexpensive procedure, but it cannot be carried out countless times. Moreover, it is not recommended to apply such preparations on your own: to avoid complications, only a dentist should do this. The essence of fluoridation is the saturation of dental tissues with fluoride, which ensures the strength and regeneration of the coating.

Another useful procedure for protecting teeth is the already mentioned remineralization. This method resembles fluoridation, but has a slightly different principle of action. When treating the dentition, a specific protective film is formed on its surface, preventing the enamel from being destroyed. Such a film is close in composition to the natural enamel coating.

The third popular method of protecting teeth is enamel layer implantation. This technology is used to regenerate large areas of damage. In this case, the implant is a special mixture that has the molecular structure of dental tissue. On the surface of the tooth, this mixture performs the functions of natural enamel for some time. Implantation is considered one of the best methods of protection, but it cannot be classified as inexpensive.

Tooth enamel product: how to choose the right one?

There are a large number of products available for home use to protect and strengthen tooth enamel:

• pastes and powders for cleaning teeth;
• mouth balms;
• gels;
• mineral and vitamin preparations.

The action of tooth powders and pastes is reduced to the following effects:

• neutralization of plaque on the surface layer;
• saturation of dental tissues with essential minerals.

Such products should be used regularly and efficiently, otherwise all efforts will be ineffective. Such products include pastes saturated with fluoride and calcium, which have a therapeutic effect:

• Lacalut;
• President;
• ROCS;
• Blend-a-med;
• Colgate.

The effect of mouthwashes and balms is explained by the large amount of minerals in the composition. In order to avoid excess minerals, it is not recommended to use medicinal balms for more than 4 weeks in a row. Among the most famous brands of balms are:

• Depravdent;
• Gum;
• President;
• Splat;
• "Forest Balsam".

The tooth enamel gel is used from 5 to 21 days in a row. The effect of the product can last for a year, after which a course of treatment with the gel should be repeated.

Among the popular manufacturers of dental gels, we can note:

• Whitening Booster;
• Colgate;
• ROCS

Vitamins for tooth enamel are mineral-vitamin complexes that help maintain the necessary level of nutrients in all tissues of the body, including teeth:

• "Calcinova" is an effective combination of retinol, ascorbic acid, vitamins B6 and D with calcium and phosphorus.
• "Calcium Osteoporosis" complex with vitamins B6, A, C, D, as well as zinc and manganese.
• "Forever Kids" is a multi-complex containing extracts from vegetables and fruits, which helps effectively combat periodontal disease and simultaneously strengthen tooth enamel.

Which of the preparations to choose depends, first of all, on the initial condition of the dental coating. In this case, it is better to consult with your dentist. It is important to remember this rule: you cannot use the means intended for treatment for more than one month in a row. Otherwise, the effect may be exactly the opposite.

Vitamins and products for tooth enamel

A large number of minerals and vitamins are known to form the basis of tooth enamel. It is very important to prevent a deficiency of these substances in the body. It is not always desirable to resort to the use of pharmacy complex preparations, and it is not always necessary. In most cases, it is enough to establish a complete diet, with the preferential use of products that contain the substances necessary for the body in sufficient quantities.

Calcium is present in the following products:

• milk, cottage cheese, cheese;
• beans, peas;
• seaweed;
• grape.

Retinol:

• egg yolk;
• liver;
• hard cheese and butter;
• leafy greens;
• fruits and roots are orange.

Vitamin B6:

• nuts;
• liver;
• garlic;
• oatmeal;
• chili pepper;
• bran.

Vitamins B1 and B2:

• oatmeal;
• peas;
• dark bread;
• cream.

Ascorbic acid:

• rose hip;
• citrus fruits;
• chili pepper;
• kiwi;
• green;
• cabbage;
• berries.

In addition to all of the above, in order to maintain healthy tooth enamel, it is recommended to adhere to the following simple rules:

• After every meal, rinse your mouth with a small amount of water;
• It is advisable to eat raw vegetables and fruits to naturally cleanse your teeth;
• limit sweets in your diet;
• choose a toothbrush with medium-hard bristles (one that is too soft will not clean effectively, and one that is too hard will damage the enamel and gums);

• if the dental coating is weak, it is not advisable to use pastes and powders with a whitening effect;
• You should visit your dentist at least twice a year for treatment and preventive examination.

Irrational and poor nutrition, concomitant diseases and bad habits can destroy even the most durable, most resistant coating. Remember that tooth enamel is a very strong substance, but you should not abuse it.