Have you ever wondered how to get a white, healthy smile without spending hundreds of dollars on costly procedures? There are plenty of ways to strengthen your enamel and maintain a great smile — and we're here to teach you how to keep your teeth healthy and strong naturally.
How Can I Keep My Teeth Strong and Healthy Naturally?
Cosmetic tooth whitening is a lucrative industry. Many people look for treatments and chemicals to make their teeth gleam. But did you know you don't have to spend hundreds of dollars on costly procedures?
One of the easiest things you can do is ensure you're using the right toothpaste. Your toothpaste should contain hydrogen peroxide, as it's a natural bleaching agent that kills bacteria in your mouth. Your toothpaste should also contain baking soda. This compound has natural whitening properties, and it's mildly abrasive to help lift stains away from your teeth's surface.
One study published in the National Library of Medicine found that a person can acquire around 62% whiter teeth (opens in new tab) when they brush their teeth using a commercial toothpaste containing both hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. The study discovered that results were noticeable in as little as six weeks.
When it comes to keeping your teeth healthy and strong, we cannot underestimate the importance of brushing and flossing. Brushing twice a day and flossing once a day will reduce bacteria in your mouth and prevent the accumulation of plaque.
You should also schedule regular check-ups with your dentist. Ideally, you should go once every six months. When you attend a dental appointment twice a year, you'll receive a thorough, professional cleaning and receive personalized advice on how to care for your teeth.
What Foods Make Your Teeth Stay Strong?
Believe it or not, your diet can affect how strong your teeth are. Here are our top suggestions for foods that will make your teeth strong:
Strawberries
Strawberries contain malic acid, which is a natural bleaching agent. This enzyme is also excellent for increasing saliva production — and saliva is essential for protecting against germs.
While you can certainly chow down on your strawberries, you can also benefit from the malic acid more directly. Try mashing a few strawberries in a bowl and rubbing them against your teeth. Allow the concoction to rest on your teeth's surface for five minutes. Then, you can rinse your mouth with water and brush and floss as normal.
Apples, Carrots, & Celery
These crunchy favorites do an excellent job of increasing saliva production, which is the mouth's self-cleaning solution. Plus, the "crunch" element works wonders for scrubbing your chompers clean.
Nuts & Seeds
Nuts and seeds like cashews, walnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, and sesame seeds work as effective teeth "exfoliants." Their abrasive textures strip away stains from your teeth with little effort — all you have to do is chew and enjoy! Plus, some seeds like sesame seeds feature calcium, which is a great way to make your teeth strong.
Do Milk, Lemons, or Bananas Whiten Teeth?
When you're learning how to make your teeth strong with food, you might hear contradictory advice about specific foods.
Milk is a great way to brighten your teeth. Its lactic acid lightens your enamel and encourages saliva production that can wash away unhealthy bacteria. A protein in milk called casein can prevent stains and invite calcium phosphates to remediate cavities. The same goes for other dairy foods like yogurt and cheese.
You might have seen tips about using banana peels (opens in new tab) to brighten your teeth. But there isn't any research that proves banana peels whiten teeth.
Lemons, along with other citrus fruits, are highly acidic by nature. Their acidic properties will not remove stains from your teeth — instead, they'll wear your enamel away and make you more susceptible to tooth decay. We recommend that you drink lemonade and fruit juices sparingly, and rinse your mouth with water after finishing your glass.
Can Teeth Repair Themselves?
Yes! While missing teeth can't grow back, there are certainly other ways teeth can repair themselves.
Each tooth has a thin outer covering known as the enamel. The enamel can repair itself using fluoride (opens in new tab) from the food you eat, including marine fish. Fluoride can also come from the toothpaste you brush your teeth with. Even if you don't consume a lot of fluoride via the foods you eat, enamel also uses minerals present in your saliva to restore itself.
Even though your teeth can repair themselves, you shouldn't use this reality as an excuse to neglect taking care of your teeth. Wise dietary choices and a solid brushing and flossing routine will help you strengthen your enamel.
Is It Possible to Remove Tooth Decay Myself?
You might be able to remove tooth decay yourself, depending on how serious your case is. For example, you can take the following steps to heal cavities naturally:
- Reduce your sugar intake
- Eat more calcium-rich foods
- Avoid soda and other carbonated drinks
- Use an antibacterial mouthwash
- Add Vitamins B and D, iron, and magnesium to your diet
- Eat foods with natural probiotics
- Avoid drinks that can cause a pH imbalance in your mouth, like coffee and tea
Another way that you can remove tooth decay yourself is via oil pulling (opens in new tab) — the practice of swishing oil in your mouth to remove harmful, tooth-decaying bacteria. You can try using coconut oil, sunflower oil, or organic sesame oil.
Can Badly Decayed Teeth Be Saved?
The tips we mentioned above are wise to implement if your tooth decay is mild. But if you have a more serious case, you'll likely need professional intervention.
A dentist can save a decaying tooth by offering the following treatments:
- Fluoride treatments
- Fillings
- Crowns
- Root canals
In grave cases, you may have to undergo a tooth extraction to remove a tooth that's in very poor condition. But the removal of a severely decayed tooth will benefit your oral health in the long run, and you can receive a dental implant in its place.
Reasons Why Your Teeth May Feel Weak
Many factors can cause your teeth to feel weak, including:
- A sports injury
- Brushing too vigorously
- Eating acidic foods regularly
- Dry mouth
- Grinding your teeth at night
- A habit of using chewing tobacco or biting your nails
- Frequent vomiting due to bulimia or alcoholism
Even genetics can cause you to be more prone to tooth decay and weaker teeth in general. But if you experience any of these conditions, it's important to learn how to make your teeth strong to prevent issues down the line.
Achieving Your Movie-Star Smile
Achieving a screen-worthy smile doesn't have to be complex. As long as you follow the guidance we've outlined above, you should learn how to keep your teeth healthy and strong in no time. Eat the right foods, brush and floss regularly, and check in with your dentist at least twice a year.
If you live in Howard County or near Ellicott City, MD and you have questions about your dental health, schedule a check-up with our friendly team at Dorsey Family Dental. You can schedule an appointment by calling (410) 740-9400.