Maintaining dental health can give you a beautiful smile, but did you know that regular
general dentistry visits can make them stronger as well? Over time, acidic or sugary foods can wear down the enamel on your teeth and weaken them, increasing the odds of breakage, cavities, and chips. If you have concerns about the strength of your teeth, your dentist can provide you with several treatments and tips to keep them strong for years to come.
Strong teeth not only contribute to an attractive smile, but they also support overall health. Teeth with weak enamel or that already have fractures can invite a significant buildup of bacteria in the mouth, which can travel to the bloodstream via saliva. Over time, this can cause a variety of health problems, including:
Committing to good oral hygiene and visiting a general dentistry clinic for regular appointments can prevent such problems, and your dentist can also offer several different treatment options that could help support and increase the strength of your teeth.
Teeth may become weak due to enamel loss, which can make them more prone to breakage. Tooth bonding can rectify this issue, as dentists can apply it to almost any tooth with the use of composite fillings. This material, which is made from a mixture of silica glass, resin, and plastics, is moldable and allows the dentist to add the material to an existing tooth and then shape it properly.
Composite fillings match the color and appearance of your natural teeth, making the repair almost invisible. The bonding layer also protects the weak tooth from hard or crunchy foods.
Like tooth bonding, veneers are a permanent solution for one or more weak teeth. During this process, your dentist will create a porcelain or composite covering to fit over a tooth and then adhere it permanently with dental bonding. If the tooth in question is especially vulnerable, your dentist may choose porcelain instead of composite material, as porcelain will make the veneers strong enough to last many years.
Cavities can weaken your teeth and cause them to break unexpectedly. While good oral hygiene can reduce the risk of cavities, your general dentistry clinic can strengthen affected teeth with fillings. He or she might allow you to choose the material type, which usually includes metal amalgam or composite material. The filling guards the damage caused by a cavity and provides a tooth with increased strength. With proper brushing and flossing, a filling can last over a decade.
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Your general dentist can provide you with education and treatments that strengthen your teeth and may help you feel more confident about the appearance of your smile. From simple fillings to more involved procedures like veneers, the wide array of choices available can provide you with a strong and healthy smile for a lifetime.
Request an appointment or call Santa Monica LiveWell Dentistry at 310-828-2440 for an appointment in our Santa Monica office.
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