What is Pitting in Dentistry?
The health of your tooth enamel is a very important aspect of your overall oral health. In order to care for your tooth enamel, avoid pits, and prevent decay, there are some basic things you can do. With that said, there is also pitting that is genetic. Genetic pitting and pits caused by oral healthcare may have similar treatments, but different causes.
Below is more information about pitting in dentistry, and what you can do if you have pits in your teeth.
What is Tooth Enamel?
The enamel of a tooth is the thin, translucent, tough exterior. While it is protective, it can be damaged. Once your enamel is damaged, it is damaged for good. It does not grow back. Because of this, it’s important to take care of the enamel of your teeth.
What is Pitting in Dentistry?
Pitting Enamel Hypoplasia (PEH) is a genetic condition that makes teeth more vulnerable to tooth decay. This is separate from the formation of pits and fissures that occur due to poor oral healthcare. With that said, both conditions can be helped with the use of sealants.
What Leads to Tooth Erosion?
There are a few things that can lead to damage to your enamel and tooth erosion. Some of these include:
- Drinking soda and fruit drinks. Soda and certain fruit drinks contain high levels of acids. These acids will eat away at the enamel of your teeth over time.
- Acid reflux and heartburn. With acid reflux and heartburn, your stomach acid can make its way to your teeth. This will erode your enamel over time.
- Brushing too hard. Many people don’t realize they are brushing too hard. Doing so can wear away tooth enamel.
- Grinding and clenching. Clenching and grinding teeth (also known as “bruxism”) wear away at the surface of the teeth and the enamel.
In order to avoid these forms of damage, it’s important to cut back on drinks with acids, address your acid reflux, and/or get a mouth guard for your teeth grinding.
Signs of Tooth Enamel Erosion
A few signs of tooth enamel erosion you should look out for include:
- Cracks and chips
- Pits and fissures
- Pain and sensitivity
- Discoloration
Treatment for Erosion
It’s important to treat erosion as soon as possible so it doesn’t get worse. If pitting is genetic, it needs to be monitored and may eventually require treatment. For pits and other forms of damage that are caused by improper oral care, a patient will need to consider repairs. Some of these may include bonding, veneers, or even crowns. If you are concerned about erosion, consider asking your dentist about sealants.
Contact Us
To learn more about pitting, damage to enamel, and repairs, contact us today. We’ll schedule an appointment for the dentist to take a look and see how pits can be addressed or what preventative methods are available to protect your teeth.