Tooth enamel – the hardest element of the human body
Enamel is a very hard, highly mineralized substance of a white or off-white color that acts as a barrier protecting the tooth. Enamel is the hardest element of the human body, but at the same time, it is highly vulnerable to rapid degradation and destruction, especially by acids from food and drinks.
Introduction
Enamel develops and forms on the tooth while it is still in the jawbone. This process takes place before the tooth begins to erupt from beneath the gum line and starts to settle into its proper position in the oral cavity. Once fully formed, enamel contains no blood vessels or nerves, is not made of cells, and is up to 96% mineral. The primary mineral is hydroxyapatite, which is a crystalline calcium phosphate. As a result, although enamel is indeed the hardest tissue in the human body, just like with the liver, the human body is unable to rebuild its structure on its own in any way in the event of any damage or destruction. Therefore, maintaining the good condition of enamel and protecting it from damage or decay is one of the primary concerns of dentistry.
The structural integrity of enamel is genetic, as is its predisposition to demineralization or susceptibility to bacterial attack. So, what can be done to keep the enamel, which is responsible for protecting our teeth, in good condition for many years? Fluoride comes to the rescue.
Remineralization
Fluoride therapy helps prevent tooth decay. Strengthening the enamel is the result of a chemical process in which mineral substances lost by the tooth return to its structure. This happens thanks to the use of appropriate toothpastes, rinses, gels, and preparations containing calcium and phosphate ions. These types of products can be purchased in pharmacies or dental offices and used on your own at home.
Another solution for strengthening enamel is fluoride varnishes, foams, and gels, which are applied in the dental office by a dentist or qualified dental hygienists. Proper hygiene and a suitable diet are also important, preferably rich in products containing large amounts of calcium (yogurts, cottage cheese, milk), as well as avoiding the consumption of large amounts of sugar and sweetened drinks.
Recently, British scientists from Bristol University and Leeds Dental Institute developed gels that can regenerate decayed or damaged tooth enamel. A peptide hydrogel is applied to the tooth. This creates a protein scaffold on which new calcium from saliva is deposited to form enamel. The researchers observed "very significant" levels of repair, in which signs of decay were reversed after just a single application of this chemical compound. Meanwhile, scientists from the University of Southern California developed a hydrogel with an amelogenin-chitosan peptide, which captures calcium and phosphorus mineral ions from saliva, creating a highly oriented enamel-like layer that restores up to 80% of the hardness of normal enamel. In 2019, Chinese scientists discovered that mixing calcium and phosphate ions with triethylamine in an alcohol solution causes enamel growth with the same structure as teeth (biomimetic remineralization).
Either way, left to itself, without appropriate support from us or a dentist, enamel does not cope well with bacteria that grow in our oral cavity. Therefore, it is essential to follow the basic rules of daily hygiene and use oral hygiene services once every few months. At the Luxdentica Dental Center in Krakow, we have a full spectrum of suitable dental materials, thanks to which you can check the condition of your teeth on an ongoing basis and, if necessary, use gels, rinses, toothpastes, or use dental services that rebuild and save tooth enamel.
