Is It Too Late to Take Care of My Teeth?
In the early stages of tooth decay, your dentist has several tricks up their sleeve to save your tooth, including fluoride treatments, fillings, crowns, and even root canal therapy. But, if decay is more extreme, pulling the tooth might be the only option left.
When it comes to our teeth, most things are irreversible. For example, our enamel once eroded won’t grow back because it doesn’t have living cells to repair itself. It’s not a living tissue and it has no natural regeneration abilities. There are claims out there about brands of toothpaste and mouthwash that “restores” enamel. However, you’ll just get disappointed because the results would be far from what you expect.
The truth about enamel and fluoride
What toothpaste and mouthwash products (with fluoride) actually do is they help remineralise or harden the enamel. The fluoride helps capture the calcium and phosphates and pushes them back into the tooth and enamel. This is the reverse process of what acids do to our teeth where calcium and phosphates were instead drawn out.
Aside from pushing back the minerals, the toothpaste and mouthwash products also help slow down tooth decay because they help remove the acids, the bacteria and their food (sugars). It’s like the bacteria has to start all over again. In contrast, if we don’t regularly brush our teeth, sugars, acids and bacteria accumulate and they’re almost in a 24/7 operation. They have enough time and numbers to wear away our enamel.
Protecting what you still have
What can you do then? Is it already too late and hopeless? Good news is that you can still make your teeth look good again. Yes, the enamel won’t grow back but the dentist can still best advise you about how to bring back your confident smile.
It starts with proper dental assessment and protecting what you still have. However, many patients are afraid or ashamed and they delay visiting the dentist as long as they can. Perhaps they experience anxiety or life’s too fast and busy and their oral health always gets pushed back. Bad news is that once their teeth hurt or the gums are now under severe infection, the inconvenience and the costs will be too high.
Visit Big Smiles Dental
If you have no time on weekends, you can still book an appointment on Saturdays. For example, you can contact us here at Big Smiles Dental if you’re in and around Little Bay. We will first take a look at your teeth and tell you about the options you still have. You’re free to ask questions and we’ll clearly explain the answers before moving forward.
Experienced dentists have seen it all from mild to worst. Also, they’re trained to do the procedures properly and safely. In contrast, many people try the do-it-yourself approach. This could be dangerous and even make their teeth look worse. If you want peace of mind and flash again a truly confident smile, it starts with a visit to the dentist. This way, you’ll be sure that you’re on the right track and there will be improvement.