The minerals that make up your teeth are important since they allow them to perform their job. Most of us are aware of calcium and phosphate as minerals that help teeth remain strong. However, no matter how well you take care of your teeth, they can fall prey to the ravages of aging. The Dental Health Foundation of Ireland mentions that tooth decay can lead to demineralization of teeth, as the bacteria interact with the calcium and phosphorus on the tooth. To stop tooth decay from setting in, you may want to consider remineralizing your teeth with the help of your dentist in Orlando, Florida. Additionally, you should take care of your teeth to prevent further demineralization. Several methods of dealing with remineralization and preventative care to help keep your teeth healthy.

1. Drink Lots of Water

Water is a healthy substitute for the sugary drinks that many people choose to go along with their meals. Healthline notes that water is one of the most important elements of maintaining your body’s functionality. It is just as important to your oral health. Rinsing out your mouth with water after a meal may be useful in keeping food particles stuck on your teeth after a meal. While brushing would be ideal sometimes, you just don’t have the time and equipment to do so. Water serves as the best liquid for consumption, since it’s neutral, and helps your mouth form saliva.

2. Eat Less Starch

Simple carbohydrates are great for your body’s energy production but bad for your teeth. Potatoes, bread, and rice are made up of these simple carbohydrates. When you finish consuming these foods, they leave behind a lot of remnants that bacteria can consume, leading to the formation of plaque and contributing to tooth decay. It’s even worse when you combine these starchy foods with sugar. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition mentions that sugar when combined with starchy foods like these, can lead to tooth decay at an advanced rate.

3. Don’t Let Your Mouth Remain Dry

When your mouth can’t produce enough saliva, it becomes dry. Saliva is a critical element in the prevention of cavities. Nature states that the pH of dental plaque can have a significant impact on the formation of tooth decay. Plaque pH tends to rise when the saliva neutralizes or washes away the acids that the bacteria in plaque produce. Saliva provides vital remineralization, repairing the loss of minerals that plaque usually causes. If you let your mouth remain dry, you lose out on the beneficial aspects of saliva.

4. Probiotics for Remineralization

The bacteria that exist in your mouth comprises several varieties. When deciding to use probiotics for oral health, you should choose one of the varieties that already exist in the environment. The choice ensures that there won’t be any surprises by introducing new bacteria into the region. The bacterial types that you can use are salivarius, rhamnosus, reuteri, and bifidobacterium. The journal Nutrients makes mention of several studies that dealt with the use of probiotics to prevent tooth decay, showing promise for the practice.

5. Consume Less Dairy

The primary component of dairy is lactose, which is a sugar. However, the calcium contained in milk is useful for remineralization, so cutting it out completely will cause problems. Taking a more measured approach to the consumption of milk is a better option. Dairy doesn’t have to be the source you get your calcium from. Non-dairy milk alternatives are easy to locate and are usually lactose-free. Soy milk or almond milk both fall into this category. They offer enough calcium without the added risk of lactose affecting your tooth enamel.

6. Vitamins and Supplemental Minerals Help the Cause

There’s a constant battle between your teeth and the plaque for calcium. Your teeth naturally produce calcium, which is then stripped by the bacteria over time. If you keep consuming calcium, you can keep replacing it when it gets removed. However, if you aren’t able to get a calcium-rich diet, then you may want to look into taking supplements. An article in the journal Nutrition Reviews also noted that Vitamin D might also play a part in preventing tooth decay. Choosing a supplement shouldn’t come down to just your teeth, however. Consulting your dentist in Orlando, Florida, and doctor regarding your supplements will help you make a more informed choice.

7. Keep an Eye on Fruit Juices

Fruits offer a lot of nutritional benefits. They provide the body with carbohydrates and vitamins that it needs to function properly. However, the big problem that fruit juice presents is its acidity. The acids that exist in fruit juice can strip away the calcium from your teeth, exposing them to attack by plaque bacteria. Fruit juices usually come with the added problem of sugar. When the acidic juice strips away the calcium protective layer, the sugar fuels the bacteria to start breaking down your tooth enamel. Balancing your fruit intake so that you don’t offer an easy break to plaque bacteria is for the best.

8. Sugarless Gum May Help

Within the field of dentistry, the benefits that gum provide to oral health is a contentious topic. However, many modern studies are suggesting that gum, especially the sugarless variety, may actually help remineralization. The American Dental Association notes that chewing gum can help with saliva production, which can help with clearing particles from the teeth. Xylitol and sorbitol are the best sugar-free options for sweeteners.

9. Stop Eating So Much Sugar

Dentists around the world have known for decades (if not centuries) that sugar is the biggest culprit in tooth decay. Angeles Institute states that the average American consumes seventeen (17) teaspoons of sugar every day. Sugar leads to the formation of plaque and the formation of acids that develop and advance tooth decay. While it would be a very challenging prospect to cut out sugar from your diet completely, being more reserved in your consumption may result in better outcomes for your oral health. The International Journal of Nanomedicine noted that more frequent consumption of sugar over a single large influx led to faster demineralization of teeth.

10. Use Fluoride Toothpaste

While a lot of organic stores are touting natural toothpaste as the best way to take care of teeth, there’s no scientific backing for those claims. Instead, fluoride toothpaste has shown its usefulness in preventing demineralization. A study published in BMC Oral Health stated unequivocally that there was a distinct increase in remineralization of teeth when using fluoride toothpaste. Remineralizing teeth in this fashion is just another side-effect of brushing your teeth regularly to prevent tooth decay.

Keep Your Teeth Strong

Your oral health can have a significant impact on other areas of your life. Taking care of your teeth and gums should be among your highest priority concerns. That’s why at Serene Dental, we believe that your teeth and gums need constant care. Scheduling an appointment with your dentist in Orlando, Florida, once every six months will ensure that you get the care you need from a professional. The routine care of your teeth starts with you. Are you ready to join a dental practice that helps you keep to your goals of protecting your teeth? Contact us today to come in for a visit.