Enamel

Looks like

The hard, glassy outer coat of each tooth crown, the hardest tissue in the body.

What it does

Protects the tooth from chewing forces and acids.

Keeping it well

Cannot regrow; fluoride toothpaste twice a day and fewer sugary or acidic drinks prevent decay and erosion.

Related conditions

• Acromegaly
• Bad breath (halitosis)
• Burning mouth syndrome
• Dental abscess
• Fractures
• Fragility fracture
• Frailty & falls in older age
• Hand, foot and mouth disease
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Impacted wisdom teeth
• Lichen planus
• Mouth ulcers (aphthous stomatitis)
• Osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease)
• Osteomalacia & rickets
• Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
• Osteoporosis
• Paget's disease of bone
• Pemphigus vulgaris
• Sarcoma
• Stevens–Johnson syndrome / toxic epidermal necrolysis
• Teeth grinding (bruxism)
• Tooth decay & gum disease
• Vitamin B1, C and other deficiencies
• Vitamin D deficiency