General quesiton about teeth enamel

[Anonymous]

I have recently realized what I am doing to my teeth and health by smoking, drinking soda, etc.

My teeth are starting to show the root rather than the shiny white enamel. If you have experienced this from drinking coffee, smoking, or other things- please let me know.

Also, I brush my teeth every day and for some reason there is heavy plaque build up on the bottom row. Could this be related to the types of food I eat?

What have you done to successfully have a clean white smile again?

[Annette83]

I don't know a whole lot about teeth, but my friend had a similar problem. He found out he had problems with his gums (that's why his roots started showing).

Do you floss every day? If you don't, this could be the problem. A lot of food can get stuck between your teeth that you can't brush out. Over time it rots and can lead to tooth or gum damage. This was part of my friend's problem. If your parents have the same problem, it might be genetic.

I would be careful about using tooth whitener because my friend tried that and his dentist said that it can sometimes damage the enamel. Like I said though, this isn't something I know a lot about. You should visit a dentist if you can. I used to go to the local dental school when I was in college. I got great care for a low charge.

[ivarei]

coffee does not wear away tooth enamel, it just stains your teeth. smoking can rot your teeth and stain your teeth. however, drinking a lot of soda can eat away the enamel because of how acidic it is. brushing your teeth does not fight off all plaque either. you should be using enamel protecting toothpaste, there are certain varieties that were designed for people who eat bad foods that wear away their teeth.

also, it sounds like you don't go to the dentist, which is very important. if you don't go to the dentist and have them do something to restore your teeth, it sounds like you're going to end up losing them completely.

[Asker]

Agreed =) however they aren't that bad as your picturing. They only have subtle stains so I believe they are repairable without losing them (thankfully).

I will use your advice and stop drinking soda and ill try to stop smoking

[ivarei]

Well the benefits of quitting smoking extend much further than your teeth (i'm sure you know all this already)

but I really suggest seeing a dentist if you're not seeing one regularly. I'm sure they could give you some tips on how to keep your enamel strong. my roommate was a Diet Coke ADDICT and when her dentist noticed that her enamel was dissolving, it was recommended that my roommate start using special toothpaste.

[Asker]

=) I appreciate the sound recommendation. Have a good day and thank you.