Then, there's calcium-rich foods, such as low-fat or fat-free milk, yogurt and cheese, fortified soy drinks, tofu, canned salmon, almonds and dark green leafy vegetables that help promote strong teeth and bones.
Meat, eggs, tofu, beans, nuts and green, leafy vegetables are all good sources of protein. Calcium is great for increasing the strength of your bones and teeth. Milk, cheese and other dairy products are a great source but if you're lactose intolerant, soy milk is a good alternative. Sesame seeds are also calcium rich.
And like apples and oranges, chewing raw carrots, celery and other fibrous and hard vegetables stimulates the gums and help to generate mouth cleansing saliva. Carrots and celery are also good sources of beta carotene, which your body needs to create vitamin A -- a nutrient essential for building strong teeth.
Sadly, once the enamel or bone have been worn away, you can't get them back – unless you replace the whole tooth. That being said, there are ways you can replenish those minerals with a few lifestyle changes and home remedies before tooth decay sets in. This process is called remineralization.
Adequate vitamin D and calcium make bones and teeth denser and far stronger, which helps prevent fractures and cracks. You can find vitamin D in eggs, fish and dairy products like cheese and fortified milk.
Bananas are full of vitamins like vitamin C and vitamin B6, as well as fiber. In addition, they provide a wide variety of minerals like potassium, manganese, and magnesium. These minerals can help strengthen tooth enamel, so they're very good for the teeth.
You cannot 'regrow' tooth enamel either naturally or artificially. However, through the process of remineralisation, it is possible to improve tooth enamel using natural strengthening methods.
Bruxism (Teeth Grinding): The repeated friction and stress from grinding or clenching your teeth can wear down your tooth enamel, leading to weak, brittle teeth. Food choices: Diets rich in sugary and acidic foods and lacking in certain vitamins and minerals often translate to weak and brittle teeth.
High in phosphate and calcium, cheese (and milk) helps neutralize the acid in the mouth, killing bacteria and preserving tooth enamel. This prevents cavities and gum disease. Chewing celery (or apples or carrots) produces saliva, neutralizing the bacteria Streptococcus mutans that causes cavities.
Despite the health benefits, drinking too much coffee can leave a lasting mark on your smile. In fact, research shows it can increase your risk of cavities because it's acidic, which can erode your enamel. As your enamel becomes thinner, it can also lead to tooth sensitivity.
Apples, strawberries, cranberries, kiwis, and oranges are all good providers of these healthy teeth ingredients. In addition, chewing firm, fibrous, and watery foods like fruits (and those veggies we mentioned) tend to pump up saliva production, and as you've likely figured out by now, that's a good thing!
Many fruits are high in acidity, including lemons, grapefruit, strawberries, grapes, and apples. The high sugar and acid content in soda makes it another huge contributor to enamel decay. Moderately acidic foods include pineapple, oranges, tomatoes, cottage cheese, maple syrup, yogurt, raisins, pickles, and honey.
You Can't Go Wrong with Milk, Water, or Tea
Bottled water with added minerals contains calcium phosphate, an important element to help strengthen tooth enamel. Water from your faucet is full of fluoride that also strengthens teeth and does a good job at removing food particles.
Vitamin D plays a key role in bone and tooth mineralization, and when levels are unregulated it can lead to the “rachitic tooth”, which is a defective and hypomineralized organ highly susceptible to fracture and decay [35,36].
Vitamin D Deficiency and Oral Health
Because our teeth are made of bones, it is logical that the amount of vitamin D one consumes is important for their oral health. Lack of vitamin D can lead to dental caries, and weak or brittle teeth that easily break, chip, and crack.
Enamel can repair itself by using minerals from saliva, and fluoride from toothpaste or other sources. But if the tooth decay process continues, more minerals are lost. Over time, the enamel is weakened and destroyed, forming a cavity. A cavity is permanent damage that a dentist has to repair with a filling.
Mix a tablespoon of salt in 6 ounces of warm water and swish vigorously around in your mouth. Continue this at least for a minute before you rinse, spit and repeat. This will draw out all that hidden bacteria effectively. Gradually, your gums will begin to strengthen and so will the loose tooth.