Bones are strong but that doesn’t make them immune to breaking. Moreover, when they break, the pain could be unbearable unlike a scar or a cut which happens quite often.
Similarly, gums are also known to bleed occasionally if we brush or floss in the wrong way, or eat anything with sharp edges. Teeth, on the other hand, are strong and seldom break.
That is because they are covered by a shield called enamel which is the strongest part of the body. However, due to various reasons, they could be lost. This article will tell you ways to restore your tooth enamel naturally.
What is enamel and how does it corrode?
Any fifth grader can tell us what enamel is. It is the outer layer of the teeth and protects it from any damage that may come during the chewing process.
With calcium phosphate as its primary component, it is still corrodable. So what are the symptoms of corroded enamel? Also, what could make such a strong substance lose its charm?
The symptoms include tooth sensitivity which causes problems in eating general food, tooth discoloration as it could be yellow to brown, have brittle edges, or even show symptoms of decay. Now let’s look at the causes.
Its causes include,
➡️ Acidic food and drinks
This includes the food and drinks that have high acidic content in them. Acidic foods are often sour and can include lemonades, citrus fruits, and their juices which can take over the parts of enamel bit by bit.
➡️ Sugars and starches
When you eat your sweets, the bacteria in your mouth start eating them and then they produce acid and tartar which can corrode away your enamel over time.
➡️ Dry mouth
Saliva has the primary role of enabling the chewing of food and digestion. However, it also plays a major role in hydrating the mouth and keeping your teeth wet. When there is no saliva, it could eat away the enamel on your teeth.
➡️ Teeth grinding
Some people have a habit of grinding their teeth or sometimes your teeth could grind due to its misplacement. In both cases, it is possible that the teeth start getting weaker and the enamel starts withering away.
This could show on your teeth when they have weird markings on them due to the constant abrasive contact.
➡️ Brushing too hard
You read it right. If you brush it more than needed, it could take away the enamel on your teeth. You should use a soft-bristled brush and even strokes to not stress on them. This could later develop into gum bleeding and even breaking of the tips.
How to restore tooth enamel naturally?
Before we get into the specifics, we must declare that once the enamel is completely lost, there is no way to restore it.
Remineralization as the process is called can be done where you could retain the enamel or probably strengthen it. Acid attacks on teeth can be prevented by
➡️ Reduce acidic foods
When you eat something sour, your teeth might feel sensitive and that makes you feel uncomfortable. It is nothing but the acid in those food items reacting with your enamel.
If you continue eating acidic drinks or foods, your enamel could be affected and therefore to protect it you must reduce eating acidic foods and drinks.
➡️ Consume calcium-rich food
Calcium is the primary component in the enamel and therefore eating calcium-rich food can empower the tooth enamel. You could also take supplements to fulfill your calcium needs.
➡️ Increase phosphorus intake
Phosphorus also works in tandem with Calcium to strengthen the enamel. You could eat lots of lean meat, nuts, and fish to get this into your body.
➡️ Vitamin D
Vitamin D is an important component in the protection of tooth enamel. Some toothpaste brands have Vitamin D in them. You could use it or eat foods that have Vitamin D in them.
➡️ Avoid sugary products
Sugary products could be the leading cause of plaque accumulation on the teeth and therefore you might want to cut off them completely. As the bacteria have nothing to work on, it can cause no harm to the enamel.
➡️ Drink water
Drinking water can let the food particles sticking to the teeth go away and this could prevent the tartar from shifting onto the teeth.
➡️ Oil pulling
Some people use this peculiar method to remove the food particles that are stuck in the teeth. All you have to do is swish a mouthful of coconut oil and spit it out.
➡️ Use fluoride
Fluoride can fight off bacterial activity like no other. If you feel your teeth have started becoming weaker, you should use fluoride in your toothpaste and brush it with slower strokes at a 45-degree angle.
➡️ Avoid overbrushing
Brushing more than necessary can sometimes be harmful as teeth are more delicate than you think. So go with a 2 times a day schedule.
➡️ Chew sugar-free gums
Many gums including those containing xylitol can help remineralize the teeth. However, you should make sure there is no sugar content in the gum to prevent teeth from decaying.
Conclusion
Our tooth enamel is strong in every sense. However, there is a wide array of things that could cause problems for the enamel.
It includes unhygienic food habits as well as failure to keep the teeth clean. Consulting a dentist to remove decay is good but preventing the decay is much better.
To do that you must closely follow some instructions including brushing the teeth but not too harshly. When there is a color change, you must consult a doctor and find out the reason behind them.
If you don’t seek immediate treatment for a broken or decayed tooth, chances are it could spread to the other ones as well and that could give rise to many problems.
Additionally, you should not use your teeth to break hard substances as that can also lead to the erosion of enamel or tooth breakage.
References
- Gil-Bona A, Bidlack FB. Tooth Enamel and its Dynamic Protein Matrix (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32585904/). Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Jun 23;21(12):4458. Accessed 3/6/2023.
- Zimmerman B, Shumway KR, Jenzer AC. Physiology, Tooth (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538475/). 2022 Apr 14. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Accessed 3/6/2023.
