Your teeth are a kind of tissue with a hard enamel exterior. The exterior is made with mineral components, namely calcium phosphate salts with small amounts of sodium, chloride and magnesium. This enamel can be damaged by bacteria in a process called demineralization. This process can end in cavities and other dental problems. Find out some preventative methods to avoid enamel damage and follow the steps below to re-mineralize your teeth.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Practicing Good Dental Hygiene
Step 1. Brush your teeth
You need to brush your teeth at least twice a day with a soft toothbrush. Teeth can be damaged if you brush too vigorously or use a toothbrush with coarse bristles. Leave the toothpaste in your mouth without rinsing. You'll need to remove excess foam, but don't rinse your mouth with water. Give time for the minerals in the toothpaste to absorb into the teeth.
Don't forget to brush your tongue too
Step 2. Use dental floss
You must floss every day. Use about 45 cm of dental floss. Tie most of the length of this thread on the middle finger of one hand, and the remaining thread on the middle finger of the other hand. Hold the floss with your thumb and forefinger, then guide the floss against your teeth in a gentle back and forth motion. You will need to touch the floss to the bottom of each tooth.
When the floss is between the teeth, move it up and down to clean the sides of each tooth. When you're done with one tooth, remove some more floss and brush over the next tooth
Step 3. Consult a dentist
Before you carry out any remineralization steps, make sure that you do need remineralization. Consult a dentist first to determine the health of your teeth. Once this process has started, you will need to continue with your dentist to see how you are progressing. This can only be determined in consultation with a dentist.
You should consult a dentist regularly. Thus, your teeth will be healthier. You should also clean your teeth at the dentist, as recommended by the dentist
Step 4. Have the dentist evaluate your teeth
When you visit your dentist, he or she will evaluate your dental health and see how you are taking care of your teeth and gums. The dentist can also determine the risk of cavities. He or she will look at your teeth and take an X-ray. He or she may also ask you to rinse your mouth with a remineralizing solution with fluoride for a few minutes.
The dentist can also look for signs of cancer or jaw problems
Step 5. Follow the dentist's advice
It will tell you if your teeth need remineralization. If your teeth do need to be remineralized, let him know your plans. Only a dentist can determine whether the mineral condition of your teeth has recovered.
Method 2 of 3: Using Toothpaste and Mouthwash
Step 1. Use a fluoride dental product
Fluoride is added to toothpaste and mouthwash to replace the calcium component in enamel with fluorapatite, a substance that resists acid-induced demineralization. Fluoride toothpaste removes bacterial plaque and strengthens tooth enamel. Fluoride ions also replace calcium ions, and strengthen the enamel.
- Fluoride can help the remineralization process because it is antimicrobial. Fluoride can kill oral bacteria which is the main reason for tooth enamel decay.
- If your teeth are sensitive, use toothpaste for sensitive teeth. Toothpaste for sensitive teeth can also reduce gum swelling.
- There are over-the-counter toothpastes, liquids, and tooth remineralizing powders. Ask your dentist for the product he thinks is best. You should also use fluoride toothpaste that bears the Indonesian Dental Association logo.
- You can also use a special fluoride toothpaste that is designed to rebuild enamel.
Step 2. Purchase a fluoride-free remineralization paste
Fluoride can indeed help the remineralization process, but it is not really needed. Fluoride does make teeth healthier, but teeth don't actually contain the substance toothpaste adds. You can remineralize teeth without fluoride. Toothpaste without fluoride will still reduce bacteria in your mouth. Such toothpastes usually contain xylitol, a sugar alcohol that reduces the sticking ability of plaque-making bacteria.
- This kind of toothpaste also repairs the calcium and phosphate present in the tooth enamel.
- Toothpaste that does not contain fluoride, such as Mustika Ratu Betel Leaf, Siwak-F, and Miswak HPA.
Step 3. Make your own remineralizing toothpaste
Instead of buying over-the-counter toothpaste, you can also make your own toothpaste at home. Use 4 tablespoons of powdered calcium carbonate. You can get this powder by crushing calcium carbonate tablets, or buying this calcium powder at retail. Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda, 1/2 to 1 packet of stevia, and 1 teaspoon of sea salt. Mix everything. Then, add coconut oil until it becomes a paste. Once it thickens into a paste, add a few drops of menthol oil until it's cool enough for you. Mix everything perfectly. Dip your toothbrush into this mixture, then brush your teeth.
- You can make a larger package. Store in sealed jars and refrigerate so they don't go stale.
- If you want to whiten your teeth or if you have a stubborn stain on your teeth, add 2 teaspoons of 3% hydrogen peroxide. The mixture will foam in your mouth and may cause a slight tingling sensation, but you shouldn't worry as that's completely normal. Hydrogen peroxide is antibacterial and is also a bleaching agent. However, do not use a concentration higher than 3% because it can burn and irritate the gums and mouth.
Method 3 of 3: Maintaining Diet and Nutrition
Step 1. Avoid all forms of sugar
Tooth demineralization is related to certain eating habits. If you want to remineralize your teeth, avoid all sugar. You should also avoid all refined grains, which can affect your teeth like sugar. Bacteria grow faster in the presence of sugar, which is their food. Reduce the food of these bacteria. You should avoid all processed and packaged foods, such as bread, cookies, cakes, potato chips, and crackers.
- You should also avoid fizzy drinks and other sugary drinks. Such drinks tend to contain a lot of added sugar. Such drinks are also acidic and can damage the enamel.
- If you're not sure what's in a food, read the packaging. If there is sugar, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), cane sugar, or other sweeteners, avoid those foods.
- If you like sweet foods, try replacing your sweetener with honey (which is antibacterial) and stevia, a plant that is 200 times sweeter than sugar. Stevia also contains no calories.
- Artificial sweeteners like aspartame are chemically very different from sugar. Basically, such sweeteners give the brain the impression that they are sweet.
Step 2. Limit consumption of some fruits
When it comes to remineralizing your teeth, you need to limit the amount of citrus you eat. If you eat citrus fruits, rinse your mouth with water to reduce the amount of acid.
The sugar in fruit is another type of sugar that bacteria don't really like. This way, you don't have to limit your consumption of fruits other than citrus, such as apples, pears, or peaches
Step 3. Increase saliva production
By stimulating the natural production of saliva, you are also helping to remineralize your teeth. When you eat, chew the food thoroughly. Chewing activities stimulate the production of saliva. You can also chew menthol-flavored sugar-free gum, or eat sugar-free hard candy, to help produce saliva in your mouth.
Acidic foods also tend to increase saliva production, but acidic foods tend to be acidic, so be careful about the amount of acidic food you eat
Step 4. Take mineral supplements
There are several types of mineral supplements that you can take. Take a multivitamin, but only if it contains minerals such as calcium and magnesium. Any daily supplement you take for your teeth should contain at least 1000 mg of calcium and at least 3000-4000 mg of magnesium. These two minerals help in the natural rebuilding of tooth enamel.
- Men over 71 years and women over 51 years should get at least 1200 mg per day.
- Children have different mineral needs. Consult a doctor first, or take a children's multivitamin, to determine the appropriate daily amount.
Step 5. Eat foods rich in vitamin D
When trying to remineralize your teeth, you need to increase your intake of vitamin D. Eat foods rich in vitamin D, such as fish, soy milk, coconut milk, cow's milk, eggs, and yogurt.
Step 6. Get vitamin D in other ways
If you want to get vitamin D in a form other than food, you can take supplements or get vitamin D from the sun. Adults and children need at least 600 IU of vitamin D daily. Look for supplements that contain this amount of vitamin D per dose. You can also get extra vitamin D by spending 10-15 minutes in the midday sun every three days, without sunscreen. If possible, expose the arms, thighs, and back.
- Elderly people over 70 years need 800 IU of vitamin D per day.
- Take vitamin D, calcium, and magnesium together, to increase your chances of remineralizing your teeth.
Step 7. Drink plenty of water
You should drink at least 6-8 glasses of moderate water every day, without minerals. Drink water to keep you hydrated. Other drinks do not provide hydration as well as water because they already contain other substances such as sugar, caffeine, or protein. Hydration also aids in the production of saliva, which helps remineralize and protect teeth.
- You don't need to drink water with minerals in it. You get the minerals you need from food.
- Tap water also contains minerals, although the amount and type depends on where you live.
Step 8. Try gargling with oil
Put the oil in your mouth, then rinse your mouth. Do it once every day. There have been many small studies with coconut oil or sesame oil showing that these activities can reduce bacterial plaque and gum irritation. In the morning, put 1 tablespoon of sesame oil in your mouth before eating or drinking anything. While closing your mouth and lifting your chin, gargle with the oil and move it between your teeth. While gargling, also move your mouth as if you were chewing. Do it for 15-20 minutes then throw it away.
- Once removed, brush your teeth and rinse your mouth. You should also drink 2-3 glasses of water.
- Do not gargle in the throat like mouthwash.
