A healthy smile comprising healthy teeth and gums reflects the overall health of our bodies. A good dental hygiene routine and regular flossing are excellent ways to keep teeth healthy, but this is only the beginning. Proper nutrition and diet are the main ways to make teeth stronger.
When you are the proud owner of healthy teeth and gums it is easier for you to eat well and enjoy delicious food. Several issues can impact your oral health, but proper care should keep your teeth and gums strong as you grow older.
Yes, you are growing older. Having said that, do you know your teeth can actually get weak as you age? Minerals such as calcium and phosphate, as well as bone and dentin, build up tooth enamel when we are young and contribute towards making teeth stronger.
However, with our increasing age, we lose those vital minerals. It can also be caused by eating excessive sugary and acidic foods or by allowing bacteria to build up in your mouth.
Unfortunately, once the enamel gets eroded, it cannot be replenished unless the entire tooth is replaced.
With that said, there are some simple lifestyle modifications and natural remedies you can use to regenerate those minerals before tooth decay sets in. This is known as remineralisation.
Now let us have a look at some of the most important factors that makes teeth stronger and healthy as well.
Brush before and rinse your mouth after breakfast
Brushing your teeth prior to having breakfast defends your teeth from damage before you eat. Fluoride toothpaste is the most effective at protecting your teeth.
However, if you have juice or cereal for breakfast, brushing afterward risks rubbing the sugars and acids into the enamel on your teeth. Brush first and then rinse to protect your teeth the best possible way.
Always brush your teeth before you go to bed
It’s no secret that brushing your teeth at least twice a day is generally recommended. Nonetheless, many of us continue to skip brushing our teeth at night.
However, doing so is extremely crucial because brushing your teeth at night removes germs and plaque, and there of makes teeth stronger and healthier
Say no to frequent intake of sugary foods
Within the mouth, sugar gets converted to acid, which largely depletes the enamel of your teeth. This is why it’s vital to prevent foods with high amounts of sugar as much as possible.
Cavities are caused by the acids that sugar converts to. Even foods that appear to be healthy, such as fruits, can contain a lot of sugar.
It is essential to keep a balance, so you do not need to avoid these foods entirely, but you should be aware of what you are consuming and how it may actually impact your oral health.
Stop brushing your teeth manually, rather go electric
When electric brushes are placed opposite the manual ones, the former inevitably wins the race. Electric brushes are considered to be more effective when it comes to removing plaque.
This prevents tooth decay and gum disease. This is mainly due to the logic that a small head can reach all of the hard-to-reach areas that a larger manual brush cannot.
Furthermore, it is less sensitive than the manual brush and is simple to use for anyone. If you want to make teeth stronger then you must maintain a good oral health routine, whether you use an electric toothbrush or a manual one.
Your tongue is equally important
Plaque can accumulate not only on your teeth but also on your tongue. Not only can this cause bad breath, but it can also cause other oral health issues.
Brush your tongue softly each time you brush your teeth. To brush your tongue, toothbrushes with short bristles on the back are available. Tongue scrapers, which are mainly brushes for your tongue, are also available in many supermarkets and online.
Brush properly and do not hurry
The manner in which you brush is just as crucial as the frequency of your brushing. In actuality, brushing your teeth poorly is almost as bad as not brushing at all.
To eliminate plaque, brush slowly, without any hurry, and move the toothbrush in gentle, circular motions. There are numerous Tutorial videos and detailed descriptions of the most effective methods and techniques for brushing your teeth.
Good fluoride toothpaste is the best choice for your teeth
When it comes to toothpaste, there are many more key aspects to consider than whitening power and flavour. It doesn’t matter which version you choose as long as it contains fluoride. Thus, brushing teeth imbued with fluoride contributes towards making teeth robust and strong
This is because fluoride is a powerful anti-cavity agent. It works by fighting germs that cause decay and acting as a protective barrier for your teeth.
Don’t rinse but spit after brushing
Typically, people gargle and rinse immediately after brushing their teeth. This is simply a bad habit. After brushing, when you rinse your mouth the fluoride from your toothpaste gets washed away, which is there to protect your teeth during the day.
So, instead of rinsing after brushing, spit to avoid washing away the things that are beneficial.
Stop smoking
Smoking can discolour your teeth and cause bad breath. Smoking can cause a variety of health problems, but when it comes to your oral health, it enhances your chances of having gum disease. Leaving smoking is the best way to make teeth stronger and further adds to dental harmony.
Flossing is just as important as brushing, so make sure to clean in between your teeth
Flossing stimulates the gums, reduces plaque, and aids in the reduction of inflammation in the area. Flossing once a day is usually sufficient to reap these advantages.
Keep yourself hydrated all the time
As far as your health benefits are concerned, water as a drink remains unsurpassed. And that includes your oral health too.
Drinking water after each meal is a good rule of thumb. This can aid in the removal of some of the negative effects of sticky and acidic foods and drinks in between brushes.
Mouthwash has its might too
Mouthwash is an important part of your routine because it decreases the amount of acid in your mouth, reaches and cleans hard-to-brush areas in the mouth and around the gums, and mineralizes the teeth. Also swishing water in your mouth properly cleans the teeth to a great extent.
Consume crunchy fruits and vegetables
Instant or processed foods are convenient and easy to prepare, but they may not be so good for your teeth. Eating fresh, ripe, and crunchy fruits and vegetables contains more healthy fibre and are also the best option for your teeth.
Many parents believe that cutting everything into small pieces and mashing loads of processed foods is better for their children, but this isn’t always the best option. You must avoid doing these things in order to get those little jaws to work!
Cut out grains from your diet
In brief, grains, nuts, and seeds contain acid, which restricts the absorption of beneficial minerals such as zinc, iron, and calcium.
If you must consume grains, then make them less harmful by fermenting them at least. Fermented grains are comparatively less harmful and more effective.
Wait for some time before brushing after you consume sugary or acidic foods
Wait half an hour after eating or drinking something acidic or sugary before brushing your teeth.
Many people believe that brushing your teeth right away will help reduce the effects on your teeth, but brushing right away actually harms your teeth even more.
In order to encourage proper absorption, digestion must be improved
When your gut health is imbalanced, it can interfere with mineral and nutrient absorption. You may be eating the right foods, but remineralisation of your teeth will be impossible if they are not properly absorbed.
Stress, certain medications, amalgam fillings, alcohol, parasites, and processed foods all have the potential to impair absorption. Consume healthy fats with each meal to improve vitamin A, D, E, and K absorption. Take a probiotic supplement or consume probiotic-rich foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, yoghurt, pickles, or kombucha.
Oil pulling
Oil pulling is the practice of swishing a high-quality edible oil (such as coconut oil) around the mouth for 20 minutes. This procedure aids in the cleaning of teeth and the removal of plaque build-up. Oil pulling also removes bacteria from the mouth and prevents it from adhering to the teeth.
When bacteria are allowed to remain on teeth, the acid they produce corrodes the surface enamel, revealing the defenceless dentin layer beneath. Sustaining a regular oil pulling routine will help to keep your teeth strong.
Visit your dentist at least twice a year to maintain healthy teeth
Your daily habits are vital in order to maintain your overall oral health. Even the most diligent brushers require routine visits to the dentist for cleanings and checkups.
Despite the fact that you are doing everything possible to keep your teeth clean and healthy, your dentist will be able to remove calculus and look for cavities, which you will not be able to do at home. They will also be able to identify and treat any other possible problems you might well have.