The tooth enamel, consisting of dentin, is the outermost white part of a tooth. It will always remain white and strong when we take proper care of our teeth. Taking care of your teeth doesn’t need to be expensive – daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste and flossing are very effective for fighting cavities and other oral problems. Most people suffer from dental problems that result in damages to the teeth. The enamel, being the outermost protective layer of the teeth, helps to keep them strong and functional. Dentists recommend maintaining good oral hygiene to prevent cavities and protect the dentin.
Misuse or lack of proper dental hygiene can weaken and damage your teeth enamel, impacting your oral health. However, it’s important to take protective measures to safeguard your teeth enamel. Certain foods and remedies, along with the use of fluoride toothpaste, can strengthen tooth enamel and make it more resistant to erosion and damages. In this article, I will share various techniques to strengthen tooth enamel, empowering you to prioritize your oral health.
How to strengthen tooth enamel
Before I dive into the heart of this article on tooth decay and tooth remineralization, I would like to explain more about dental care and oral health. The enamel is quite strong, but certain factors can weaken, break down, and damage it over time. Once your teeth enamel has been damaged, it’s usually very difficult to restore them back to their original state.
Since oral health is important and tooth enamel does not regenerate, it is crucial to have a strong oral care routine to prevent cavities and the need for dental restorative treatments. The best way to avoid these complications is by protecting and remineralizing your teeth enamel. Strong enamel is more resistant to erosion and damages. Here are ways to strengthen your teeth enamel.
1. Pick the right toothpaste: all toothpastes are not created equal, some toothpaste are specially designed to strengthen the teeth. Toothpastes that contains flouride are great for the protection of the teeth and also for preventing cavities. A research report from the American Dental Association, proved that toothpastes which contained sodium chloride, dissolved calcium, phosphate, and fluoride can reduce tooth enamel erosion and damage.
Daily use of fluoride toothpaste or mouthwash can help to restore minerals lost from your teeth due to decay. When shopping for oral care products, make sure to choose options that contain remineralizing agents, such as fluoride. These products can strengthen tooth enamel and prevent dental problems caused by acidic substances and sugar.
2. Take enough calcium: the enamel is among the hardest substances found in our body. It’s made up of minerals, enabling it to protect the softer dentin and sensitive parts of the teeth. When your teeth are exposed to erosive agents such as acids, these acids tend to remove most of the minerals it contains. This process is known as demineralization, it makes your teeth to be more susceptible to decay, sensitivity and erosion.
Luckily, calcium, phosphorus, and zinc are among the essential minerals that make up the teeth. Regularly consuming foods and fruits rich in these minerals can help remineralize your teeth and strengthen tooth enamel, preventing demineralization. Pumpkin seeds, shellfish, oysters, red meat, crab, beans, broccoli, cabbage, and dairy products are all good choices for sources of tooth-healthy minerals that promote oral health.
3. Take enough vitamins: vitamins are essential in maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamins D and K2 are great for teeth protection and strengthening. Studies have shown that you can experience constant teeth demineralization when you are not getting enough vitamin D. Vitamin D plays an important role in the body, it increases the absorption of minerals such as calcium and phosphorus.
Vitamin K2 on the other hand, helps to make sure that the absorbed minerals are properly utilized for teeth and bones remineralization. Foods such as: salmon, fermented cod liver oil, egg yolks, soya beans, chicken liver and vegetables are great sources of tooth-healthy vitamins. (1)
Other ways to protect your teeth enamel
4. Stop teeth grinding: teeth grinding also known as bruxism, is a medical condition that involves uncontrolled grinding or clenching of the teeth. This health problem can even occur unconsciously during the day time or at night. Teeth grinding at night is very common in both children and adults. If you are a grinder then you should get help on how to stop. Teeth grinding can wear down your teeth enamel overtime, exposing the inner layers of your teeth.
Grinding is really a bad habit, you can end up suffering from severe pain when you eat or drink. You should not ignore these oral problem, talk to your dentist he can help you stop teeth grinding.
5. Avoid excessive consumption of sugary foods: eating anything at all that has high contents of sugar and starch can lead to tooth decay and erosion. Sugary and sticky foods such as: milk, honey, chocolate, candies, sugar-laden breakfast cereal, dried fruit, cake and so on are dangerous to you teeth.
They tend to attract lots of harmful bacteria to your teeth, this bacteria will eventually produce acids that will attack your enamel.The acids eats away the natural minerals in your teeth, resulting to teeth demineralization. Am not actually trying to tell you not to take surgery foods at all. If you must take them, ensure to brush or rinse your mouth in order to prevent acid buildups.
6. Brush the right way: brushing daily is a great way to prevent dental problems, but only when it’s done the right way. Most people cause problems to their teeth and gums all in the name of brushing their teeth. Using hard-bristled toothbrush or brushing aggressively can damage your teeth enamel and gum tissues. You should use soft-bristled toothbrush and gentle brushing techniques instead.
Regular brushing and flossing can help to remove plaque, food particles and harmful bacteria from your mouth. When brushing, you should try to clean the inside surface of your teeth. You can also visit your dentist regularly for frequent professional dental cleaning and examinations.