As a parent, you do your best to keep your child healthy. You pack apples instead of cookies, you make sure they brush before bed, and you keep up with their checkups. But sometimes, even when you’re careful, you might see a white spot on their tooth or notice they winced when eating something cold. This usually leads to one big question: Can a dentist actually fix enamel once it has worn away?
At Strong Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, we hear this worry all the time. The answer is a mix of "yes and no." While you can’t grow back natural enamel as you grow back a fingernail, a dentist in Strongsville, OH, has a few ways to strengthen what is left and protect the tooth from getting worse.
Enamel is the hard, protective outer shell of the teeth. It’s actually the hardest part of the human body! But even though it is tough, it can still be damaged.
Most parts of the body can heal themselves. If your child scrapes their knee, the skin grows back. If they break an arm, the bone mends itself. But enamel isn't made of living cells. Once the tooth pops through the gums, the body can't make any more of it.
Baby teeth actually have thinner enamel than adult teeth. This is why cavities can move so fast in children. At Strong Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, we focus on finding problems early because once a hole starts, the softer layer inside the tooth decays very quickly.
Since the body can’t grow new enamel, dentists use a process called "remineralization" for small spots of damage, and "restoration" for bigger problems. Here is how we handle it at Strong Smiles Pediatric Dentistry.
If we catch the damage early, it often looks like a chalky white spot. This means minerals are leaving the tooth, but a full cavity hasn't formed yet. We can use professional fluoride treatments to "push" minerals back into the tooth, making it hard again. This is the closest thing to fixing enamel naturally.
Think of sealants like a raincoat for your child’s teeth. We paint a thin, protective layer onto the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. This stops food and germs from getting into the deep grooves where the enamel is thinnest. It’s a great way to keep the enamel they already have safe.
If the enamel is already gone and a hole has formed, a dentist in Strongsville, OH, will use a tooth-colored filling to plug the gap. This material is strong and looks just like a natural tooth. If the damage is really bad, we might use a small crown to cover the whole tooth, giving it a new "shield" to replace the lost enamel.
Knowing what causes the damage can help you stop it. We see a few main causes at Strong Smiles Pediatric Dentistry:
While you need a dentist in Strongsville, OH, for the big repairs, you are the first line of defense at home.
Fluoride is a lifesaver for teeth. It helps rebuild weak spots and stops early decay from getting worse. Make sure your child brushes twice a day with a tiny bit of fluoride toothpaste (the size of a grain of rice for toddlers or a pea for older kids).
Encourage your child to drink plain water, especially tap water with fluoride. Water helps wash away food and cleans off the acid that germs make. Also, try to cut back on snacking. Every time your child eats, their mouth stays acidic for about 20 minutes. Fewer snacks mean fewer "acid attacks" on their teeth.
Q: Does it matter if baby teeth lose enamel? They fall out anyway, right?
A: It actually matters a lot! Baby teeth hold the space for adult teeth. If a baby tooth is lost too early because of decay, the adult teeth can come in crooked. Also, a damaged tooth can hurt, making it hard for a child to eat or focus at school.
Q: Is juice okay if it’s 100% fruit juice?
A: Unfortunately, juice is still tough on teeth. Even 100% juice has a lot of sugar and acid. At Strong Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, we suggest giving kids the whole fruit instead of the juice, or at least mixing the juice with plenty of water.
Q: What are those white spots on my child’s teeth?
A: White spots are usually the first sign that the tooth is losing minerals. If you see these, it’s time to see a dentist in Strongsville, OH, right away so we can try to harden the spot before it turns into a cavity.
Q: Can kids use whitening strips?
A: No. Whitening products can be too harsh for a child’s thin enamel. Never use these on your kids without talking to Strong Smiles Pediatric Dentistry first.
The best way to "restore" enamel is to make sure you never lose it. When you bring your child to a dentist in Strongsville, OH, every six months, we can catch problems before they hurt.
At Strong Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, we:
Your child’s smile is important, and we want to help you keep it that way. Enamel might not grow back on its own, but with the right care from the team at Strong Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, your child can have a healthy smile for a long time.
If you are looking for a kind and expert dentist in Strongsville, OH, we would love to meet you. We make every visit fun so your child actually likes going to the dentist.
Don't wait until a tooth hurts to check on things. Call Strong Smiles Pediatric Dentistry today to set up a checkup. Let’s work together to keep those smiles strong!
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