Protecting Tooth Enamel Tips

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I’m a planner and a rule follower. Taking steps to maintain my health now and for the rest of my (very long, I hope) life is important to me. I have been conscientiously taking care of my dental health since I was a teen.  But I’ve recently learned that I have some enamel loss despite my efforts. Now I’m even more motivated to protect my teeth and specifically my tooth enamel. I’ve found these tips for protecting tooth enamel helpful and easy to incorporate into my daily life.

tube of toothpaste next to toothbrush with toothpaste on it on white wood table

We all know how important it is to protect our teeth from plaque and cavities, but are you familiar with how important it is to protect tooth enamel, too? In the same way that taking care of my long-term physical and mental health is important to me, taking care of my long-term dental health is important. I can use these simple tips for protecting tooth enamel every day to maintain my lifelong dental health.  

Protecting Tooth Enamel Tips

1. Avoid soda, acidic drinks and acidic food.   Drinking  soda and acidic drinks, like fruit juice, can damage tooth enamel, as can eating acidic foods. Take time to learn which of your favorite foods and drinks may damage your tooth enamel and avoid them or at least switch to low acid versions of those items. 

2. Rinse with water after eating or drinking anything acidic.   Make it a habit to rinse your mouth with water after you eat or drink an acidic item. Rinsing with water will minimize the damage the acid can do to the enamel on your teeth. 

glass with ice and water and red straw on white wood table

3. Use a straw for drinks that are tough on enamel.  If you do choose to drink soda, fruit juice or other acidic drinks, use a straw. Using a straw allows the acidic liquid to bypass your teeth (and enamel) rather than wash over your teeth and this will minimize the damage to your enamel.

4. Chew sugar-free gum. Chewing sugar-free gum will increase the saliva in your mouth which is beneficial for your dental health. It also lowers amount of acid in your mouth and its exposure to your enamel. 

orange slices on white plate

5. Wait 45 minutes to an hour after eating to brush your teeth.    When you eat or drink acidic foods they soften the enamel of your teeth. If you brush immediately, you’ll damage your temporarily softened tooth enamel. Waiting about an hour before brushing allows your enamel to harden again before you begin brushing.

6. Use toothpaste that protects and repairs your enamel.   Using a fluoride toothpaste that protects and repairs enamel twice a day as part of your daily healthy lifestyle routine can strengthen and repair your enamel. This all contributes to my long-term dental health and that’s important because I plan on using these teeth for a very long time 

7. Use a soft bristled brush.  It’s important to use a soft-bristled brush and  don’t brush with too much pressure. Using a gentle touch while brushing and using a soft bristles will better preserve your enamel over time. 

These tips for protecting tooth enamel are easy to incorporate in your daily routine starting today. Healthy enamel is stronger and will last longer. I plan on using my teeth for a very long time, so I want to do everything I can to make sure my enamel and teeth last as long as I do.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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3 Comments

  1. This is so true – it’s important to take care of our dental health. I’ve always been lucky enough to have good access to dental care and to have seen some that were not so fortunate. I’m so glad this is instilled early into our Granddaughters, they have great habits even before they loose their baby teeth.

  2. To be clear, beverages are not a unique contributor of oral health issues. Many factors contribute including genetics, oral hygiene, overall diet, behavior and more. The important thing to remember is to maintain good oral hygiene habits and regular dental appointments to prevent and mitigate oral health issues.

    1. I agree that beverages are not the only culprit and that there are many factors involved in maintaining healthy teeth and tooth enamel. But being aware of every contributing factor can help individuals make the best choices for them.

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