Make your tooth enamel stronger
With dental erosion, the protective enamel layer around your teeth slowly dissolves due to acids from food and drinks. The consequence? Sensitive teeth, yellowish or transparent teeth and a greater chance of cavities. Fortunately, you can give your teeth a helping hand. We share our 3 tips to make your teeth stronger and reduce dental erosion.
Dental erosion and the enamel of your teeth
Tooth enamel is the protective layer that surrounds your teeth. According to Sky Dental Dentist, when your teeth are formed, some cells create minerals, which form a white layer around your teeth. If you didn’t have this layer, your teeth would have the yellowish color of dentin. That’s a soft type of bone right under your enamel that protects the nerve. But the enamel on your teeth does not only provide a white smile. Your tooth enamel mainly protects your teeth against external influences.
Do you quickly suffer from sensitive teeth or cavities? Then it is possible that your enamel layer has been affected. We call this dental erosion, which literally means ‘wearing down your tooth’. The biggest causes of dental erosion are acids from food and drinks, such as lemon juice, soft drinks or products with a high sugar content. Acids lower the pH level in your mouth. If that value falls below 5.5, the enamel crystals in your tooth enamel begin to dissolve. That’s called demineralization. But grinding your teeth, brushing your teeth after you have eaten something sour or brushing poorly can also cause your tooth enamel to be damaged.
Tooth enamel does not grow back unfortunately, but with the right oral care, minerals and vitamins you can keep your enamel strong and you can treat tooth erosion.
Tip 1: Use fluoride to strengthen your teeth
To protect your teeth and strengthen your enamel, fluoride is a smart first step. Fluoride adheres to teeth, molars and damaged enamel. With a layer around your teeth, your teeth are extra protected against acid attacks. Your enamel dissolves less quickly and recovers faster. But to protect your teeth and prevent tooth decay, the fluoride you get from food and drink is not enough. That’s why it’s wise to brush with a fluoride toothpaste twice a day. Your teeth and tooth enamel are a lot less vulnerable this way. Do you want to rinse with a mouthwash with fluoride after brushing your teeth? Ask your dentist or dental hygienist for advice on the right mouthwash. If necessary, they can also apply a fluoride application to protect your teeth.
Tip 2: Make your teeth stronger with minerals and vitamins
In addition to fluoride, your teeth and molars benefit from sufficient minerals and vitamins. Calcium, magnesium and vitamins A, D and K2 in particular are indispensable for healthy and strong teeth.
Magnesium and calcium for your teeth
Calcium and magnesium are important minerals that keep your tooth enamel strong. These minerals are in your saliva and have a re-mineralizing effect: they ensure that the minerals in your tooth enamel recover after a meal. You have probably heard that calcium is an important mineral for strong bones and prevents bone loss. But calcium-rich food is also very important for strong teeth. Calcium is mainly found in milk, dairy products, cheese, vegetables, nuts and legumes. Magnesium ensures that you absorb calcium easily. It is found in green leafy vegetables, nuts, legumes and bananas.
Vitamin for strong teeth
Vitamins are especially important to support the minerals in your body. Your teeth especially benefit from fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D and K2. Vitamin A produces growth factors that are necessary for the growth and repair of bones and teeth. You can find this vitamin in oily fish, organ meats and whole milk products. Vitamins D and K2 stimulate the production of osteocalcin, a hormone that ensures that calcium is built into your bones and teeth. In addition, vitamin D is important for a healthy mouth in general; it lowers the risk of inflammation in your mouth and body. Like Vitamin A, you can find Vitamin D and Vitamin K2 in oily fish, butter, eggs and meat.
Tip 3: Take good care of your teeth
With the right nutrition you can make your teeth and tooth enamel stronger from the inside out. Supplemented with good oral care, you prevent a lot of problems. For example, make sure you eat no more than seven times a day. This gives your glaze enough time between meals or snacks to recover from an acid attack. After eating or drinking, rinse your mouth with water to flush out as much acid as possible. Do you want to brush your teeth after eating? Then wait at least an hour. If your enamel is still soft, brush it off with your toothbrush.
Finally, make sure you don’t brush too hard. This can also damage your tooth enamel. With an electric toothbrush with a built-in brushing pressure sensor, you can be sure that you are applying the right brushing pressure.