Four Tips For Strong Tooth Enamel

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tenamYour teeth are protected by a clear, hard coating called enamel. Enamel helps protect your teeth from decay. Tooth enamel is one of the hardest substances in your body but it can still weaken and wear. It is important to keep your enamel strong in order to keep your teeth healthy. Brushing your teeth at least twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste helps keep your enamel strong, but there are other ways as well. Here are four tips for strong tooth enamel.

The Four Tips

  1. Use fluoride: Fluoride has been proven to help fight cavities and make your teeth more resistant to acids from foods and oral bacteria. It strengthens your teeth and remineralizes them, meaning it helps repair your tooth enamel in the early stages of tooth decay. Using fluoride toothpaste and rinsing with a fluoride mouthwash can keep your tooth enamel strong and help protect against cavities.
  2. Foods: Eat foods that help strengthen your enamel such as foods high in calcium and phosphorous. Milk, cheese, and other dairy products high in calcium help strengthen tooth enamel. You can also choose foods that have added calcium.
  3. Limit foods high in sugar: There are pathogenic oral bacteria in your mouth that feed on sugar and produce enamel eating acids. These bacteria do not produce enamel eating acids unless they eat sugar. That’s why eating sugary foods and drinking sugary, acidic beverages is not good for your teeth. If you eat a diet high in sugars and starches you have a higher risk of tooth decay. After eating or drinking something sweet, rinse your mouth out with water.
  4. Don’t over-brush: The proper way to brush is with a soft-bristled toothbrush, holding it at a 45-degree angle, and using short, gentle, circular strokes. Brushing too hard and fast can wear down your tooth enamel. Brushing too soon after eating sweets or acidic foods can damage your enamel as well.

ABOUT YOUR NORTH RICHLAND HILLS DENTIST:

With over 25 years of professional experience, Dr. Steven M. Huffstutler and his caring team proudly provide exceptional preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dental treatment to patients and their families across Dallas/Ft. Worth, including North Richland Hills, Denton, the Mid-cities, Southlake, and all surrounding communities. We also have extensive experience helping patients find relief from painful TMJ disorders (various forms of jaw dysfunction). To schedule an appointment with Dr. Huffstutler, contact our office today by calling 817-918-3038.