One of the main reasons why dentists are important is that it can be a little bit difficult to determine what kinds of oral health problems you could be dealing with by feeling alone. For example, if you’ve noticed that your teeth feel a little bit rough when you run your teeth over them, there are a few reasons that could be.
While a dentist would be able to tell you more about what could be affecting your teeth, here are a few reasons you may have noticed a rough feeling on your teeth.
What Can Cause Your Teeth To Feel Rough?
There are two main reasons why you may start to notice your teeth feeling a little bit rough. The first is temporary—you may be feeling a buildup of plaque on your teeth. This is especially likely if you haven’t brushed your teeth in a while. These so-called “tooth sweaters” are easily remedied by brushing your teeth, flossing, and using mouthwash.
If you do these things and the rough feeling doesn’t go away, it may be that the enamel on your teeth has been eroded. While enamel won’t grow back once it’s gone, it’s worth pointing out that there are things you can do to fortify it after it’s been eroded.
How to Deal With Enamel Erosion
While you may not be able to get back your enamel, you can support your teeth in a few other ways that may allow you to deal with this issue. For one, fluoride plays a critical role in strengthening your teeth. Your dentist may be able to offer you a fluoride treatment or may be able to give you advice on some over-the-counter products that could be helpful.
Calcium can also support the strength of your teeth, so you may be able to counter that “rough” feeling by incorporating more of it into your diet.
What Can Erode Teeth?
If you want to stop the problem from getting worse, here are a few things you may want to watch out for:
Soda Consumption
Soda contains a combination of sugar and acid that can be detrimental to your dental health. Limit your soda intake to 1-2 times per week instead of daily.
Acid Reflux
Acid reflux can result in highly acidic regurgitation, which is harmful to your tooth enamel. If you suffer from acid reflux, it’s advisable to avoid foods and beverages that can trigger this condition.
Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits like lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruits are highly acidic and can erode your teeth. Enjoy their health benefits in moderation.
Chlorine Exposure
Frequent swimming in a chlorinated pool, with occasional contact between chlorinated water and your teeth, may contribute to erosion. It’s recommended to prevent chlorinated water from entering your mouth.
Pregnancy Effects
Pregnancy can lead to increased acidity, causing tooth erosion. Make sure to brush and rinse your teeth when possible to mitigate the effects.
About Our Practice
At Connection Dentistry, we do everything that we can to make sure that you get the high-quality dental care you deserve, no more and no less. We pride ourselves on being both comprehensive and conservative with our dental care. This is because we aren’t just interested in a paycheck—we take the health and happiness of our patients extremely seriously.
If you have any questions about how to take care of your teeth day-to-day, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (919) 787-0355.
