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8 ways to strengthen your teeth

Throughout our lives our teeth take quite a pounding, so anything you can do to keep them healthy is a good thing. The earlier you pick up good habits the better, and that’s why educating kids about good oral health is so important. Once you know how to strengthen teeth you can start to make the necessary changes to look after your little one’s pearly whites. So, with that in mind, here are eight of the best ways you can help strengthen teeth.

Drink more water

Drinking water can help reduce the risks of tooth erosion. Water is always going to be the healthiest option when it comes to oral health. It’s sugar free and doesn’t have the tannins found in both tea and coffee, all of which can lead to erosion and a dulling of the tooth’s surface.

Reduce or eliminate sugary drinks

Steering clear of sugary drinks can play a huge role in helping teeth stay strong. That includes limiting sugar in your tea and coffee. Perhaps more pertinent, especially when it comes to children, is cutting down on fizzy drinks. They’re loaded with sugar and acid, which can have a hugely negative impact on tooth strength. When you or your kids do have a sugary drink, a quick rinse with water can help reduce the risks of erosion.

Adjust the family diet

The food you eat can lead to weakened tooth enamel, too. That means keeping an eye on the amount of items like sugary cakes, biscuits and fruit juices that are consumed, particularly by kids. Again, when sugary foods are eaten, a simple rinse with plain water can have a positive effect.

In addition to limiting, or even eliminating, high sugar foods, there are practical ways of tweaking the family diet to protect teeth. That means choosing certain foods that can actually promote re-mineralising and reduce the risks of erosion. Adding lean proteins, low fat dairy, whole grains, and fresh fruit and veg is the way to go.

Choose an enamel strengthening toothpaste

When it comes to strengthening your teeth, the toothpaste you choose can have a really positive effect. Going for a product with enamel strengthening properties can restore a degree of mineral content in teeth and even reduce some of the effects of the early stages of erosion. The product is key but so is its regular use, which we’ll come onto next.

Brush twice a day

It’s one that we’re all taught from a young age, but brushing your teeth in the morning and last thing at night is one of, if not the, most important parts of a healthy oral regime. As you sleep, bacteria collects in your mouth, which can lead to increased plaque build up. That can be countered with something as simple as brushing for two minutes.

Brushing last thing at night is really important too. By doing so you can get rid of food particles and any debris that’s built up during the day. Left alone, food particles and debris promote the growth of bacteria, which can lead to the development of plaque.

Floss daily

Have you ever had the feeling that a little bit of food has got stuck between your teeth? If left alone, those tiny food particles can become a breeding ground for bacteria, which quickly turn into plaque, which attacks teeth enamel. And that results in weakened tooth enamel. To counter this, grab some floss when you clean your teeth at night and you’ve got much more chance of ridding the mouth of food particles, versus just brushing alone.

Increase vitamin D and calcium intake

Making changes in diet can help with healthy teeth, but you can also supplement to get necessary nutrients. Whilst you’ll find plenty of calcium in products like yogurt, cheese, seeds and beans, a quality multivitamin should have you covered just in case. The same goes for vitamin D, which you’ll find in fortified cereals, oily fish and eggs.

Go for regular dental checks

Whilst steps like reducing sugar, tweaking the family diet and adopting a thorough oral hygiene routine are really important in tooth health, they are not fool proof. Your dentist has the skills and knowledge to help protect you against tooth erosion. With regular visits your dentist can help reduce plaque build up, spot early signs of teeth weakening, and give you expert advice about the specific steps you need to take to counter problem areas.

Now you know how to strengthen teeth and can help your little ones develop a good routine, you can start putting plans into action!

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