Your teeth can go through a number of changes over time, including demineralizing. Sometimes, you can remineralize your teeth, though, to get them back to the strength that they once were. In this article, we will provide you with information on the demineralization and remineralization of teeth.
What is demineralization and remineralization of teeth?
Teeth can be a rather complicated thing. They are composed of many layers, but there are two main layers to know about. The first layer is a hardened outer layer. The second comes in the form of a soft inner layer. The hard layer on the outside is known as the enamel of the tooth; inside, the soft layer is called the pulp. The pulp is made up of a number of nerves and tissues. The exterior hard layer of enamel is made up of minerals such as phosphate and calcium.
The enamel’s job is to protect the pulp inside of the hard outer layer. It also gives the tooth plenty of power to chew and grind your food. Demineralization occurs when the enamel begins to lose its minerals. The result of this is crumbling of the enamel. This means that the structure of your teeth will begin to deteriorate, and when that happens, the sensitive pulp can become exposed.
The deterioration of the enamel can lead to an accumulation of plaque, intense sensitivity and even possibly tooth loss. Demineralization is the main cause of cavities and tooth decay in fact.
What is natural remineralization?
Much like some of the other parts of our bodies, the teeth are able to repair themselves sometimes. This is the process that is known as remineralization. Demineralization and remineralization are both natural cycles that happen on a regular basis in the teeth. When the phosphate and the calcium bonds begin to break on the enamel, your saliva will carry more of these minerals to the teeth. This works to repair the bonds.
There are conditions where the body can run out of minerals, though. There are also times when there is bad oral hygiene or the plaque becomes resistant to this method. When these things occur, the remineralization can stop or slow down. The result of this is cavities and tooth decay.
What leads to demineralization?
Demineralization happens when the mouth’s levels of acidity increases. After each meal that you intake, the levels of acid in the mouth will go up. This is because some of the enamel begins to break down. After the acid in the mouth has been neutralized, the remineralization can begin again.
Those who have a habit of using mouthwash or rinsing out their mouths after they eat each time will have less of a chance of demineralization for life. Those who do not will have this risk. Those who also regularly brush their teeth and use mouthwash can help to neutralize this acidity on their own. Still, dentists sometimes think that those who have a poor diet that does not consist of the right minerals may experience permanent mineralization.
Can natural remineralization be restored?
While it may be difficult to restore cavities that are deeply set, tooth decay can indeed be stopped. It can also be prevented and delayed. It is possible to make your mouth start remineralizing your teeth again. The way that you do this is from the inside out. You will have to maintain a healthy diet to start with.
Enjoying foods that have a lot of calcium in them is a good way to go. This means consuming dark leafy greens as well as dairy products. When your body gets enough of the necessary calcium, it can begin to rebuild your teeth once more. Alongside this, using a fluoride-based line of products can help.
You can start eating fluoride supplements as well; fluoride is good for reforming the bond between the two minerals, phosphate and calcium. It is important that on top of all of this, you begin to take extra good care to watch your oral hygiene routine. Rinsing out your mouth with water after everything you eat is a good idea. You can also choose to chew on a sugar free piece of chewing gum. This will help to lower the acidity in your mouth.
Ways to remineralize teeth
Fluoride is the number one way to help remineralize your teeth. Fluoride has been known since the early 1980s to control your cavities due to its topical effect. This means that it works best when it is applied directly to the teeth opposed to when it is ingested. Fluoride can help to inhibit the demineralization of your teeth especially if it is presence in the plaque fluid.
When bacteria try to produce acids from the sugar and other food particles in your mouth, fluoride can fight back against that. It forms a coating over your teeth that helps to stop such occurrences from happening.
Fluoride can also help enhance the remineralization of your teeth by returning the pH to the correct level in your mouth. The saliva which has plenty of phosphate and calcium in it, brings these minerals back to the teeth and forces them inside. It absorbs quickly into the teeth to start remineralizing them as quickly as possible.
This compound can also speed up the growth of the new surface of teeth. It does this by bringing together the phosphate and calcium ions. This means that the fluoride is also able to become a part of the partially demineralized surfaces. Because of this, your remineralized teeth come back even stronger than they were before. All in all, fluoride creates a nice barrier against the acid in your mouth from chipping away at your teeth.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed the demineralization and the remineralization of teeth. Do you have any experience with this topic? How have you tried to remineralize your teeth? Tell us all about it in the comments section that can be found below.
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