Preventing tooth enamel eroding naturally by coconut oil

You should have heard your dentist how to talk about tooth enamel when you do your regular visits. Enamel is the translucent covering of your tooth which protects your teeth from the daily wear and tear of grinding, crunching, and chewing. When the enamel erodes, then the main part of your tooth is exposed which is causing sensitivity and pain. You should know that you need to carry about the enamel because when once it is gone, then it never grows back. Many people think that enamel loss is a problem which is happening in the older ages of our lives but this is not true because there are some studies in which is shown that 41% of children in the United States of America suffer from dental erosion [1]. You should never wait until it is too late to protect yourself and your children. You need to go on regular dental checks and if your dentist has noticed that you have tooth enamel, then he or she will tell you which is the best natural cure for you.

15 Home remedies for tooth enamel

Do not brush your teeth directly after eating

Although brushing and rinsing your teeth after a meal is very recommended, there are some health care institutes who warn about brushing your tooth immediately after eating. They are saying this because acidic foods soften your tooth enamel. You should wait at least thirty minutes after you have eaten your meal because in this way you are giving your saliva enough time to neutralize the acid and remineralize your teeth. If you follow this natural treatment, then this will protect your teeth against further damage which is caused by acidic foods. This is a reason why you need gently to wash out your mouth with water after eating. Also, you can use mouthwash to rinse your mouth. When one hour has passed after you have finished with your meals, then you should use your toothpaste to brush your teeth.

Sugar–free gum

When you chew gum, then this is boosting your saliva production up to ten times the normal flow. Saliva can help you to strengthen your teeth with important minerals. There are many doctors who are recommending chewing sugar–free gums because they will help your mouth to produce more saliva which is your body’s natural response to strengthening your teeth with an influx of minerals [2]. Also when you chew sugar–free gum, then they are helping you to clear away acids remaining in your mouth after you have taken a meal. You should choose a gum with xylitol because there are many studies which are shown that this kind of chewing gum stops the growth of cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth.

Use a straw

This is a simple fix which is preventing the fruit juices, flavored waters, and the acid in sodas from splashing around your entire mouth. You should know that this is not a perfect fix because the water that we consume is still advocated as the primary liquid in our diets. But there are some health care centers which are recommending using a straw because this can help you to protect your teeth from tooth enamel.

Rinse

This is one of the simplest natural treatments which you can do for tooth enamel. You should rinse your mouth with water after you have eaten or drunk acidic foods and drinks because in this way you will wash away the dangerous acids.

Eat more cheese

There are some studies which are shown that cheese preserves tooth enamel from eroding [3]. You should not finish your meal with a slice of cake. Instead, you should finish it with a healthy wedge of Camembert.

Coconut oil

When you add an extra dose of healthy fats to your daily diet, then this can protect your teeth from erosion [4]. There are many doctors who are recommending coconut oil for this purpose. It is very easy to step to add coconut oil to your daily diet because it is available all around the world. You should add one tablespoon of coconut oil to your morning tea or smoothie. Also, you should use coconut oil in place of butter or olive oil when you are cooking your meals.

Soak nuts and beans

There are many experts who have proved that phytic acid is the number one enemy of tooth enamel. Nuts and beans are rich in phytic acid. If you cannot resist a handful of protein-packed almonds, then you should eat them after they have been soaked overnight in lemon water or saltwater and then rinsed and dehydrated in the oven. Soaked nuts and beans are recommended by many dentists.

Eliminate refined sugars and grains

There are many studies in which is said that tooth decay and cavities can potentially be reversed with nutrition. There was one study in which participants have eaten a grain-free diet supplemented with Vitamin D and it was shown dramatic healing in their cavities. But the groups who continue to eat a diet rich in grains have noticed that it continued to form cavities. There are many people who have said that when they have a grain-free lifestyle for many years, have noticed many improvements in their immune system. They have not experienced deprivation with the foods they eat.

Use a tongue scraper

In the Ayurvedic medicine was used tongue scraper was each morning after people have brushed their teeth. This natural treatment can help them to lessen the bacterial load in the mouth because it is removing bacteria and debris build-up.

Monitor snacks

Snacking throughout the day is increasing the chances of getting tooth decay. You should know that your mouth is acidic for a few hours after you have been eating foods that are rich in starches and sugar. You should avoid snacking unless you are able to brush your teeth and rinse your mouth.

Water

You should drink a lot of water throughout the day if you have a dry mouth or low saliva volume.

Use fluoride toothpaste

You should brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste because fluoride is strengthening your teeth. Fluoride is a booster shot for your teeth. It can help you to strengthen your tooth enamel [5]. This is a reason why you should look if fluoride is listed as an ingredient in the toothpaste when you buy it. Also, you should choose a mouthwash that has fluoride among other ingredients. Also, you should be sure that your children use toothpaste and mouthwash with fluoride as its component. It is never too early to start building healthy and protected teeth.

Increase your dairy intake

We know that calcium is the most important element which we need for healthy teeth. Dairy products are rich in calcium. Also, dairy products are sticky and they form a film over your teeth which lingers after you eat them. This means that they help to protect your tooth enamel against acid. [3,5]

Drink tea

Every single person has heard about the health benefits of black and green tea which are attributed to antioxidant properties. But many people have not heard that tea can help them to prevent tooth erosion. This is a natural beverage which has a high pH level relative to most other drinks and also this home remedy can neutralize the acids which are in your mouth and which are produced by other foods and drinks that you have consumed. [6]

Do not swish your drinks

When you swirl liquids in your mouth, especially liquid acids such as orange juice or soda, then you are exposing even more of your mouth to the acid which is causing tooth enamel breakdown. This is a reason why you should avoid swishing your drinks. You should use a straw so the liquid touches as few teeth as possible before being swallowed.

Get regular dental checkups

The best prevention against tooth enamel erosion is to have proper dental hygiene. This is a reason why you need to go on regular dental checkups. Your dentist will tell you how to keep clean and healthy your teeth as possible. Also, you can use your appointments with your dentist to know which the other activities are and methods that you can make to stay safe from tooth enamel erosion.

Do not grind your teeth

If you have a bad habit of grinding and clenching your teeth, then you should know that it can damage your teeth and enamel. If this is your problem, then you should ask your dentist about using a mouthguard. Grinding wears restoration and this can cause you sensitivity and damage such as small cracks and chips. Also, it is a very bad habit to hold objects, open bottles, or nail-biting with your teeth. You should avoid these habits because if you continue doing it, then you can damage your fillings or tooth enamel.

References:

[1] Deery C, Wagner ML, Longbottom C, et al. The prevalence of dental erosion in a United States and a United Kingdom sample of adolescents. Pediatric Dental. 2000;22(6):505-10.

[2] Mickenautsch S, Leal SC, Yengopal V, et al. Sugar-free chewing gum and dental caries – A systematic review. Journal of Applied Oral Science. 2007;15(2):83-88.

[3] Magalhães AC, Wiegand A, Rios D, et al. Insights into preventive measures for dental erosion. Journal of Applied Oral Science. 2009;17(2):75-86.

[4] Shanbhag VKL. Oil pulling for maintaining oral hygiene – A review. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine. 2017;7(1):106-109.

[5] Amaechi BT, Higham SM. Dental erosion: possible approaches to prevention and control. Journal of Dentistry. 2005;33(3):243-52.

[6] Kato MT, Magalhães AC, Rios D, et al. Protective effect of green tea on dentin erosion and abrasion. Journal of Applied Oral Science. 2009;17(6):560-64.