Tooth enamel is something you know you need to take care of… but you might not be sure exactly how to go about doing so.
Tooth enamel is the hard, outer surface layer of our teeth. It protects against tooth decay and is the strongest, hardest part of your body – stronger than your bones!
Knowing that, why wouldn’t you want to take great care of your tooth enamel?
There are a few ways you can get started this year to help keep your tooth enamel strong:
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Eat Calcium Rich Foods
Calcium is considered a super mineral for your teeth because it helps to neutralise acids, which can damage your teeth. It also supports strong bone and dental growth in children, so adding in at least one calcium rich food to your daily diet can positively impact your tooth enamel’s strength.
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Limit or Avoid Sugary Food & Drink
We have all heard to avoid sugar for your dental health, but do you know why? It’s because sugar feeds on the bacteria in your mouth, on your teeth, and causes plaque. Plaque is what ultimately causes cavities. So, look at the packaging on your food and drink and try to avoid juices and sodas, which are high in sugar.
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Limit Your Citrus Intake
Oranges, grapefruit, and pineapple may be tasty and wonderful juices, but the citric acid in these foods can break down your enamel quickly. Similar to how sugar feeds on the bacteria in your mouth, citric acid breaks down the enamel on your teeth (called demineralisation). This can lead to tooth sensitivity and pain – and breaks down your tooth enamel.
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Brush Regularly
Brushing regularly ensures that you are removing the bacteria growth that eats away at your tooth enamel. The addition of flossing means you can also reach places that your toothbrush can’t, removing old food and debris that will breakdown and cause bacterial growth. If you are having a tough time feeling clean after a brushing, have a read about our proper toothbrush size here.
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Use Fluoridated Toothpaste
Toothpaste containing fluoride helps to strengthen your enamel by doing the opposite of citric acid – it builds up your tooth enamel through remineralisation. You can read more about fluoride in our blog here.
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Visit Your Dentist Regularly
By visiting us regularly, you will get a deeper cleaning than brushing alone. In addition, we can keep on top of any tooth enamel issues before they become major health concerns.
If you haven’t scheduled in your cleaning appointments yet this year, give us a ring and we’ll be happy to schedule out your appointments for this year!
What an amazing blog! It is really helpful. I appreciate all the advice and information on your Blog
Thank you for this very informative blog post! The body is full of billions of cells, but teeth are unique for their ability to reflect what’s happening inside the body.
Tooth enamel is the hard, protective layer that covers our teeth. It helps protect against decay, making it an important component of maintaining good dental health.
There are some steps that you can take to ensure that your tooth enamel stays healthy and strong, including brushing with fluoride toothpaste twice a day, avoiding too much sugar or acidic foods, and visiting a dentist.