What Causes Soft Teeth and How It is Treated
Dental issues are, unfortunately, part of many people’s everyday life. The most substantial portion of our teeth is their barrier, the enamel. The enamel is the outer cover of human teeth and is the hardest mineral substance in a human organism. Some people have weakened enamel, which further implies that their teeth are weaker and “soft,” as opposed to the teeth that have a strong teeth barrier. This article covers the causes and recommendations for soft teeth treatment.
Soft teeth causes
Prenatal issues – Multiple symptoms connected to the pregnancy can lead to dental issues later in life. Some of the symptoms related to soft teeth include low birth weight, premature birth, maternal Vitamin D deficiency, multiple births, smoking by the mother during pregnancy, more weight gain during pregnancy, and lack of or delayed prenatal care.
Nutritional issues – Teeth stand at the beginning of the digestive system, which is why many diseases of the digestive tract can be connected to the soft teeth issue. Malnutrition, Celiac disease, vitamin deficiencies, and others. The behaviour that can compromise tooth enamel is increased consumption of a sugary or acidic diet. Both food groups contribute to the damage to the teeth barrier and the acidic reflux (heartburn) that happens as a consequence of such dieting habits.
Enamel hypomineralization – During teeth growth, there can be an issue with the mineralization of the growing and developing teeth, which causes soft or bumpy and uneven enamel. This state of teeth is prone to damage and tooth decay.
Enamel erosion – There is a myriad of prenatal, digestive, and nutritional issues that cause enamel erosion. Still, some of the most common include acid reflux, teeth grinding, and poor diet.
Enamel hypoplasia – The condition that causes the teeth to be visibly imperfect is enamel hypoplasia. The symptoms often include discolored, yellow, or brown teeth. The other common symptoms include being prone to tooth decay and tooth sensitivity.
Sensitive teeth – Tooth sensitivity manifests as pain or discomfort in the teeth after experiencing similar triggers. These triggers include hot and cold air, hot and cold beverages, sweet or acidic food and drinks, brushing teeth, and teeth grinding.
Amelogenesis imperfecta – A rare genetic disorder, Amelogenesis imperfecta affects tooth enamel and, thus, overall oral health. The teeth enamel is weak, the teeth can be underdeveloped, and infection to the said area happens frequently.
Trauma or injury – The trauma to the tooth where the tooth gets broken or chipped will affect the enamel and strength of the impacted tooth.
Soft teeth treatment recommendations
It is important to note that tooth enamel cannot be repaired to its perfect state once damaged. However, there are ways to lessen the damage and remineralize the tooth enamel to a certain percentage.
Children must develop a dental routine: As most of the mentioned causes are connected to childhood, healthy oral habits are exceptionally important to develop in affected children in order to minimize the effect of any disease or condition and prolong the teeth’ lifespan. These include orthodontics as well, as the experts from Church St Dental advise early treatments to avoid significant issues in adulthood. Wash their teeth for them, and be the example of the dental routine they themselves should adopt.
Regular dental appointments: The best cure for many health issues is prevention, which is exceptionally true in the case of dental problems. Most dentists advise going to a regular dental appointment once or twice a year. Still, it is most secure to follow your dentist’s recommendation for the best results. Please notify your dentist immediately if you are experiencing any soft teeth symptoms. Be sure to thoroughly follow any advice you receive to maintain your teeth’ enamel for as long as possible.
Healthy oral habits: You already are aware of a rule to brush your teeth twice a day or ideally after each meal, as well as to use floss to avoid any bacteria growth in your mouth. Be sure to use toothpaste for sensitive teeth if you have a soft teeth condition. Avoid frequently eating and drinking anything but water to lessen the damage from acidic or sugary food.
Healthy diet: The base of oral health is healthy nutrition. Be sure to drink plenty of water. Depending on your weight and activity, you might require even more than 8 glasses of water a day. Eat a variety of vegetables daily, and try to replace sugary foods with fruits. Ideally, you will also avoid food that is hard to chew to lessen the possibility of tooth enamel damage.
Perfect oral health is not possible for everyone, and if you happen to already suffer from dental conditions, don’t let it get to you. Be thorough with oral care, punctual with dentist appointments, and do not forget to eat healthy food that will maintain your dental and overall health.