How to Keep Your Tooth Enamel Strong
Enamel is the outermost surface of a tooth. It protects teeth from decay. As we age, our teeth wear and chip out. By taking simple steps, you can help slow down this process and keep your mouth healthy.
Limit Eating Sugary Foods and Drinks
First, you must limit the number of sugary drinks and foods you eat. They make the acid that softens your teeth and wears away the enamel. Also, chewing candies should be avoided since they damage the enamel. If you must drink soda, then low-sugar soft drinks with no artificial sweeteners. Unfortunately, they are all acidic and wear down the enamel. Instead, we recommend that you drink water. Healthy eating is essential for healthy teeth. Your choice of food plays a critical role in reversing cavity problems.
Eating Foods That Counter Acids
Eat foods that are rich in calcium. They counter acids in the mouth and reduce the rate at which teeth decay. Calcium also helps to keep the teeth and the bones healthy. Eat foods such as cheese, milk, and other dairy products. They protect and strengthen the enamel.
Don’t Over Brush Your Teeth.
When you overbrush your teeth, you help wear down the enamel. Brush your teeth at a 45-degree angle to your gum and ensure that you move the brush back and forth. When you eat sweets or citrus fruits, wait for about an hour before brushing your teeth. Acidic and sugary foods soften the enamel, and overbrushing can damage your teeth.
Use Fluoride
Fluoride is the element that fights cavities. It makes the teeth healthy and resistant to the acid bacteria produce after chewing food. Use fluoride toothpaste to ensure the strengthening of the enamel and repair of a decayed tooth. When you cannot brush your teeth, rinse your mouth with a fluoride mouthwash after a meal.
Treat Eating Disorders and Heartburn
Heartburn is the result of excess acid in the stomach. This acid may escape to your mouth and destroy your enamel. This will make your teeth weak. Eating disorders such as bulimia result in the weakening the teeth’s enamel. The digested food contains acid. The acid may weaken your enamel if you vomit due to an eating disorder. Seek medical help to help ease the condition.
Avoid Pools That Are Not Chlorinated
Chlorine addition in swimming pools helps reduce the acidic level of the water. If the swimming pool is not chlorinated, you risk having water in your mouth that may damage your enamel. Close your mouth while swimming. Check with the pool attendant about the chlorine levels of the pool water.
Avoid Dry Mouth
A dry mouth will expose your teeth to acid produced by bacteria after chewing. Saliva helps keep these bacteria away and washes away leftover foods from your mouth. In case you have a constant dry mouth, visit a dentist and discuss your condition.
Stop Grinding Your Teeth
Grinding your teeth wears down the enamel. If you have developed the habit, you need to talk to your dentist. He may recommend a mouthguard, which will protect your teeth and make it difficult to grind them.
Get Regular Check-Ups
You should visit your dentist every six months for teeth cleaning and a general dental check-up. These visits are necessary. The dentist can examine your teeth and rectify a problem before damaging your teeth. If your drinking water has no fluoride, ask your dentist to recommend a fluoridated mouthwash.
Eat Remineralization Diets and Supplementation
Diets and supplements can correct cavity problems. Re-mineralization is a natural process that helps the body keep teeth strong and healthy.
This process requires the proper nutrition to be effective. Some of the recommended supplements you should take include:
- Calcium – calcium leads to healthy bones and healthy teeth. Calcium is a building block for our bones. It is the main component of remineralization.
- Vitamin D3- is one of the most critical nutrients and is crucial in remineralization.
- Vitamin K2– pairs with vitamin D3 to improve the body’s calcium absorption.
- Vitamin K2 – activates osteocalcin. Osteocalcin is a protein that aids in tooth growth and repair. It plays a role in the dentin matrix and helps to remineralize teeth.