3 Ways That Dentists Can Treat Brittle Teeth

Brittle teeth chip and break more easily than strong and healthy teeth. This can become an issue when it comes to eating hard foods like nuts and boiled candy. Teeth become brittle due to dental erosion that occurs with age or because of acidic foods and drinks. Fortunately, if your teeth are brittle, your dentist can treat them in a number of ways.

1. Fluoride Gels or Supplements

Fluoride can strengthen tooth enamel, which is why you find it in drinking water and toothpaste. Brittle teeth are usually the victim of demineralization, whereby the enamel gradually wears away over time. Fluoride strengthens brittle teeth and helps them to become more resistant to demineralization.

You can use either fluoride gels or supplements. With gels, your dentist can apply the gel to your teeth one or more times throughout the year, depending on the severity of your case. Your dentist can also provide you with a fluoride gel that you can apply yourself at home. You can also strengthen brittle teeth by taking fluoride supplements in the form of liquids or tablets.  

2. Bonding

Brittle teeth usually break or chip on the biting surfaces. A good way to strengthen brittle teeth is to apply composite bonding along the biting surface. Composite bonding starts as a resin that dentists can easily sculpt onto the biting surface of a tooth and then harden with a special light.

Dentists can fashion composite bonding to look like natural teeth in both color and form. Once applied, your brittle teeth will have more support when it comes to chewing and will be less likely to break. But you will need to see your dentist at least once a year to check that your composite bonding is in good condition.   

3. Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are much the same as composite bonding. But unlike composite bonding, which will usually be applied to the biting surface of a brittle tooth, porcelain veneers cover the entirety of a brittle tooth. This then protects the entire surface of the tooth, and because porcelain is even stronger than enamel, it will last a lifetime if you care for it. To place a porcelain veneer over a tooth, dentists need to remove some of the enamel from the tooth. This ensures that the tooth doesn't appear bulky once the veneer is in place.

Are your teeth chipping and breaking often? Then you could have brittle enamel. Visit a local dentist like one at Henderson Family Dentistry and discuss how they can treat your teeth with one of the aforementioned treatments.