Tooth decay is a natural part of the aging process, but the effects of having weak teeth can be severe, impacting even simple functions like chewing. To address this issue, it’s essential to look for ways to strengthen your teeth.
Strengthening your teeth involves ensuring the enamel (the thin outer layer covering the tooth) is as strong as possible. Stronger enamel also means whiter teeth. So, strengthening your teeth will also ensure you have a white, gleaming smile.
To strengthen your tooth enamel, you need to ensure your body gets the minerals it needs to keep your teeth healthy. Minerals like calcium and phosphate keep the enamel healthy. Your teeth lose these minerals over time, which is why replenishing them is essential.
Wondering how to strengthen teeth and replenish these minerals in your body? Thinking of what foods you can eat to keep your teeth healthy? I’ll answer these questions and more.
Foods You Can Eat to Strengthen Your Teeth
Starchy and sugary foods only help promote the growth of bacteria that cause plaque development in your mouth. Plaque contributes to the development of tooth decay. The bacteria that make up plaque can also cause gum disease.
Foods you should eat instead of sugary and starchy options include:
- Fruits and vegetables that are rich in fiber. These foods help clean your teeth naturally and get your saliva flowing. Your saliva acts to reduce the effect of the sugars and starches present in food. It also contains small amounts of calcium and phosphate, thus helping replenish your teeth. However, make sure to limit the consumption of acidic fruits like citrus fruits as much as possible.
- Dairy products, including plain milk, cheese, and yogurt also help with saliva flow. Additionally, they contain a lot of calcium and phosphate. This helps with re-mineralization, and can help rebuild damaged tooth enamel. However, the lactose in dairy products can increase the acidity in your mouth. So, choosing lactose-free products is the best solution.
- Fluoride is found naturally in many foods and is one of the most important minerals for preventing tooth decay.. If you’re not sure if you’re receiving enough fluoride from your diet, you should drink more fluoridated water.
Dental Care
Consuming the proper nutrients is only one piece of the puzzle. Good dental care is vital for maintaining strong teeth.
Some methods of strengthening your teeth include:
- Brushing: Brushing helps remove accumulated bacteria from your teeth. It also reduces the likelihood of mineral loss and cavities developing. However, you should be careful not to overbrush, which can wear down your tooth enamel. Overbrushing includes brushing too fast and too violently. Furthermore, you should wait at least an hour after consuming citrus fruits to brush. The acid in these foods can damage and soften the enamel.
- Use Fluoride Toothpaste: Aside from drinking fluoridated water, another way to ensure your teeth get the fluoride they need is by brushing with fluoride toothpaste. Brushing with these kinds of toothpaste is recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA) from the moment a child’s first tooth appears. Additionally, no toothpaste is given the ADA Seal of Acceptance if it lacks fluoride. So, if the toothpaste you’re using has the ADA Seal, it means it’s a good choice for your teeth.
- Chew Sugarless Gum: Some studies show that chewing sugarless gum can help increase the remineralization of your teeth and remove plaque and carbohydrates from your teeth. Gums with sugar should be avoided because of the harmful effects of sugar on your teeth. However, sugarless gum can actually help remove sugar present in your mouth and on your teeth. Additionally, they act as a barrier that prevents further mineral loss from your teeth. They should ideally be chewed after or between meals.
- Don’t Grind Your Teeth: Grinding your teeth can wear down your tooth enamel. If you have a tooth-grinding habit, consult your dentist and consider investing in a mouthguard to prevent this from happening. This is especially useful while you’re asleep and cannot consciously control your actions.
- Visit the Dentist: It’s essential to see your dentist twice a year to get your teeth cleaned and examined. Your dentist will be able to let you know if your teeth have any concerns that you need to address. They will also be able to spot and stave off issues before they cause long-term damage to your teeth.
Other Ways Can You Protect and Strengthen Your Teeth
Some other ways to ensure you have strong teeth include:
- Stop Smoking: Smoking can cause several oral health problems, including gum disease, mouth cancer, and tooth loss.
- Take Vitamin D Supplements: Make sure you get enough vitamin D by taking supplements if needed. This vitamin helps boost calcium absorption, and calcium is critical to strong teeth. However, make sure to check with a professional before consuming any supplements.
- Avoid Staining Foods: Some foods, like coffee, tomatoes, red wine, and dark sodas like Coca-Cola, discolor your tooth enamel due to the acids and pigments they contain. These can make your teeth look unattractive. Additionally, they also damage your teeth and should be avoided.
Conclusion
When thinking about how to strengthen teeth, remember that it’s essential to take care of your dental health and eat the right food. That isn’t to say you cannot indulge in your favorite sugary treats every so often. It simply means that you will need to pay special attention to your dental care when you do.
The key is always moderation and being aware of what you consume and how it affects your dental health. This is why the information provided here will go a long way in helping you have stronger teeth in no time at all.
If you’re still concerned about the state of your teeth and find that the situation is not getting any better, it’s best to contact a professional as soon as possible. A dentist will be able to give you personalized advice about how to best ensure you have strong teeth.
