Tooth enamel forms the outer layer of the tooth, giving a protective coating of our inner tooth and preventing it from wear and tear. Tooth enamel contains minerals such as calcium and phosphate and it is the strong strongest tissue in our body. However, it can be weakened through erosion due to the presence of too much acid in our mouths.
The acid in our mouth softens the tooth enamel by dissolving the minerals, causing tooth cavities to form. When the tooth enamel gets damaged, the help of a dental professional is usually required to repair the tooth enamel.
Can you repair tooth enamel naturally? Most people would love to heal their tooth cavities naturally and avoid dental treatment. It would be nice to be able to heal your tooth decay naturally without having to get it fills up with metals, plastic and other artificial ingredients.
Dentists have said that small cavities can heal on their own. Let us find out more about what must we do to get our body to repair our teeth naturally without any professional intervention.
What Causes Tooth Enamel Erosion?
Tooth Enamel may be stronger than bones, but it can be eroded by acids in the mouth. To prevent the tooth enamel from erosion, we must be aware of what did we do that cause erosion and take steps to avoid doing things that are harmful to our teeth. Let us take a look at the common causes of tooth enamel erosion.
1. The tooth enamel is commonly eroded by acid. Certain types of foods and drinks can weaken the tooth enamel due to the high acid content in these foods, for example, carbonated soft drinks, citrus fruits such as lemon and grapefruits.
2. Eating foods that are rich in sugar or starchy. The bacteria in the mouth love sugar and they will feed on the food remains left on the teeth and in the process, they produce acids which can cause erosion of the tooth enamel.
3. Failure to follow an oral hygiene routine of brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing after every meal. Good oral hygiene is important as brushing and flossing gets rid of any food remains in the teeth and gum line and prevents the build-up of plaque.
4. Brushing your teeth too hard or using a hard-bristled toothbrush can wear out the tooth enamel over time.
5. Grinding of teeth (bruxism) can cause the tooth enamel to wear out, just like brushing teeth too hard for a prolonged period.
How Can We Control Further Erosion of The Tooth Enamel?
Tooth enamel erodes due to the presence of too much acid in our mouth caused by eating and drinking foods that are high in acid. We can control erosion by avoiding highly acidic foods.
If eating acidic food is unavoidable, rinse your mouth with water after eating or drinking. Wait 30 minutes before brushing your teeth. If you brush your teeth immediately after eating or drinking acidic foods, it will cause damage to the tooth enamel that is softened by the acid.
Eating foods and drinks that are high in sugar can cause tooth decay and plaque build-up as bacteria in the mouth love to feed on sugar and in the process, they produce acid causing the tooth enamel to soften. To prevent the tooth enamel from weakening, avoid foods that are high in sugar.
Chewing gums that contain xylitol can help to increase saliva flow to our mouth. Saliva carries calcium and other minerals that help to remineralise our tooth enamel. Chewing gum also helps those with dry mouth conditions to produce more saliva.
If the tooth enamel erosion is caused by teeth grinding, try wearing a mouthguard to sleep. Tooth enamel can also be damaged by brushing your teeth too hard or using a hard bristle toothbrush. These can be correct by changing the way you brush your teeth or using a soft bristle toothbrush.
Brushing your teeth with a toothpaste that has remineralising properties such as calcium carbonate or Novamin or fluoride can help rebuild the tooth enamel and prevent further erosion.
The Professional Way to Repair Tooth Enamel
According to most dentists, if the tooth enamel is gone, it cannot grow back on its own. There are three treatments that most dentists used to restore tooth enamel:
1. Dental bonding
This is done by a resin onto the tooth that is affected. The resin is attached to the using a conditioning liquid and is hardened by a curing light. This resin acts as a protective layer for the tooth enamel.
2. Veneers
If the front part of your tooth enamel is damaged, the dentist may recommend using veneers to restore the tooth. Veneers are thin porcelain pieces that are customed-made to fit your mouth. The veneers will be permanently cemented to the front surfaces of the tooth.
3. Crowns
Crowns are caps that are fitted over the damaged teeth. Just veneers, crowns are custom-made in a laboratory to fit your teeth. Before fitting the crown, the dentist will first clean up the tooth and fill any cavities. The crown is then fitted onto the tooth and sealed up.
These are artificial ways to restore tooth enamel and provide protection for the tooth. These treatments are necessary if the tooth enamel is badly damaged and it is not possible to repair the tooth enamel naturally.
Products That Help Repair Tooth Enamel Naturally
There are some oral care products that help to repair the tooth enamel. These products contain certain ingredients that help to remineralise the tooth enamel.
1. Remineralising Toothpaste
Remineralising toothpaste usually contains ingredients such as hydroxyapatite microparticles, xylitol, calcium carbonate and hydrated silica. These ingredients have to repair the weakened tooth enamel.
2. Tooth Powder
Tooth powder is mainly made from herbs and spices and it is usually used as an alternative for toothpaste. Most tooth powder contains ingredients that help to cure receding gums and prevent tooth decay.
Prevention and Natural Healing for Healthy Teeth
Tooth enamel erosion can happen to anyone, but it is best to prevent it from getting worse by brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing after each meal and a visit to the dentist every six months.
The tooth can heal itself through remineralisation if we avoid foods that are highly acidic and starchy. Using a toothpaste that has remineralisation properties can help with the repair of the tooth enamel. Do the right things to protect our teeth from decay prevent us from getting toothache and incurring expensive dental treatments.
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