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How Strong Are Your Teeth?

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Woman showing how strong her teeth are by biting down on a large walnut shell

Did you know that your teeth are the strongest part of your body, even more than your bones? Your teeth can handle an incredible amount of pressure on a day-to-day basis. However, your teeth can become weak depending on the foods you eat and how well you take care of your teeth. Find out how strong your teeth are, how you can make them stronger and what to do if you have weak enamel!

 

Your Teeth and Your Bones: Are They the Same?

Did you know that your teeth are not actually bones? Many people confuse teeth as bones because of their hardness and color, but they are not the same. However, they are made up of some of the same materials, which is why both are so strong and why both provide structure to your body. If your bones were made of solid material, they might be able to stand up to the strength of your teeth. However, many people don’t realize that the bones are actually not solid all the way through.

 

Your bones are made up of a spongy material called bone marrow that houses blood vessels, stem cells, nerves and more. The hard, outer material of bones are made up of calcium, phosphate, sodium and other materials. However, they are mostly made up of collagen, which is strong and provides support, but is not nearly as strong as bones. There are various layers of your teeth that get softer the closer to the inside you get. The hard, outer enamel that you touch is the hardest part.

 

The layer under the enamel is called the “dentin” and is about as hard as the bones in your body, as it is not as solidly made up of minerals. The very center of your teeth houses blood vessels, nerves and a very small amount of soft tissues. This is the pulpy center. Even though the teeth have a soft center, it is very small and not like how the bones are structured. When a tooth breaks, it can’t regenerate itself like bones can because they lack living tissue to rebuild. That is why dentists must rebuild the teeth when they break or decay.

 

3D image of a tooth showing that it is strong by showing off arm muscles

How Strong Are the Teeth?

Your teeth are made up of about 96% mineral. Because they are almost entirely made up of solid mineral, this makes them stronger than your bones. This is also because there is no living tissue in your hard enamel layers. Your bones have living, soft tissues in them, which makes them a bit weaker than your teeth. The almost-solid mineral makeup of your teeth makes them the hardest substance in your body. This is how your teeth can withstand about 5600 pounds of pressure per square inch. However, no matter how strong they are are, they can still become weak over time depending on your actions.

 

How Do Dental Appliances Compare?

There are many people that have either lost teeth from injury or decay or have needed a tooth extraction for some other reason. We often provide patients with dental services such as dental implants, bridges, veneers and more to restore their smiles. How strong do these teeth (or parts of your teeth) stay? No matter if your tooth is real or synthetic, you still must take care care of it. Dental implants are popular after a tooth extraction to restore a lost tooth. These are made of strong ceramic material made to look like a natural tooth. We also use ceramic material in dental veneers and other restorative dentistry procedures. However, dental appliances can also be made of titanium and zirconia.

 

If a patient brushes, flosses and takes care of their teeth, these appliances will last anywhere between 10 and 20 years. There are patients who have had teeth last longer than this or shorter. If you have a dental implant, veneer or other appliance, you have the best dental technology available to you that mimics the strength of your natural teeth the most. Take good care of those appliances, and they can hold up under normal amounts of tooth pressure every day for many years. Although they aren’t as strong as your natural teeth, they are pretty darn close!

 

Close-up view of beautiful, straight teeth of a woman wearing red lipstick

Weak Vs. Strong

Do you want to keep your teeth strong? It’s so very simple! Brush and floss your teeth every single day, several times a day. You also need to see the dentist at least twice a year for comprehensive exams and cleanings. Using mouthwash can kill bacteria that helps make plaque, which leads to dental decay. Fluoride products help provide a barrier between your teeth and decay-causing plaque that would otherwise weaken your teeth. The difference between having strong teeth and weak teeth is how much you utilize these basic oral hygiene methods.

 

Healthier Smiles With Help

Many people can keep their smiles perfectly strong and healthy on their own. However, that’s only if they follow proper oral hygiene guidelines. If you never try to build a muscle or keep it strong, it never will be. The same goes with your teeth. If you don’t try to prevent decay and take certain measures to make your teeth strong, they won’t be.

 

Brushing and flossing should certainly be done every day, but you also need the help of a dentist to keep your teeth strong for life. This is especially important as a child and a senior adult, as there are many teeth changes during these periods of life and the teeth are especially susceptible to decay. Let us help keep your teeth healthy and strong every year through comprehensive exams and dental cleanings! Call Stonebrook Family Dental at (303) 872-7907!

 

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