Ways to Strengthen & Protect Your Tooth Enamel

Dentist Articles

Enamel is something found on the outside of your teeth, and its main job is to protect your teeth and keep them strong. The problem is that enamel can wear off over time. As this happens, your teeth will lose their strength and will be more vulnerable to decay, cavities, and other problems. If you want to keep your teeth as strong as possible, you should focus on protecting and strengthening the enamel on your teeth, and here are three ways you can do this.

Use The Right Type Of Toothbrush

When you purchase a toothbrush, it might be tempting to choose a medium or hard-bristled brush, but these are not the best options. It might seem like these types clean your teeth more thoroughly; however, they can actually damage the enamel on your teeth. Enamel is something that does not regenerate. Once it's gone, it is gone forever, and a hard-bristled brush can speed up this process.

To avoid losing enamel from your daily brushing activities, you should stick with a soft-bristled toothbrush. This type of brush will be strong enough to scrub off the sugar, bacteria, and plaque, but it will be gentle enough not to cause any damage to your teeth.

To ensure that your toothbrush is doing its job properly, you should replace it every three to four months. Keep in mind, too, that if you are sick, you may want to replace your toothbrush once you feel better. This will help keep the germs away from your mouth, which could help you avoid getting sick again.

Use Fluoride Products

Fluoride is a mineral that is known for strengthening the enamel on teeth. While using fluoride will not help you produce more enamel, it will help you keep and strengthen the enamel you currently have on your teeth. There are a number of different ways you can use fluoride, but here are some of the best options you have:

• Make sure your toothpaste contains fluoride—A lot of toothpaste brands contain fluoride, and using a toothpaste like this daily could help a lot.
• Use a daily fluoride rinse—Fluoride rinses also can help a lot if you use one daily. After brushing your teeth, you can rinse with one of these products to keep your teeth strong.
• Get fluoride treatments at dental exams—Each time you visit the dentist for a checkup, he or she will ask if you would like a fluoride treatment. This treatment is professional strength and will make a difference in the strength of the enamel on your teeth.

You can also consume water that contains fluoride to make sure your teeth are exposed to this important mineral enough.

Eat the Right Foods & Snacks

There are also certain foods and snacks you can consume that may also help you keep the enamel on your teeth strong. In addition, chewing sugar-free gum is also a good idea. When you chew sugar-free gum, you will not be exposing your teeth to anything harmful, and the gum will cause an increase in your saliva production.

Saliva is a natural cleanser for your teeth. It washes away bacteria from your teeth, and this reduces the chances of developing cavities. If you can keep cavities away from your teeth, the enamel your teeth contain will be stronger.

Some good food options to eat for stronger enamel include apples, carrots, and cucumbers. As you eat these crunchy, healthy foods, they will actually be cleaning your teeth. The crunchiness from the foods will wipe away plaque from your teeth, and these foods are healthy so they will not cause any harm to your teeth.

If you can take daily steps to keep your enamel strong, you may have stronger teeth for the rest of your life. To learn more about this, contact a dentist such as Kyle J Frisinger DMD.

11 April 2016