How to protect and strengthen your teeth

Your teeth work hard for you every day – so it makes sense to look after them. From the foods you eat to the type of toothpaste you use, small daily habits can help protect and strengthen your teeth for the long haul.

Here’s what you need to know about keeping your smile strong.

What is tooth enamel?

Tooth enamel is the hard, outer layer of your teeth. It helps protects your teeth against decay as well as damage from things like chewing and grinding. The catch? Enamel can’t regenerate once it wears down, that’s why taking care of it is so important. Fortunately, there are some habits you can incorporate into your daily dental routine to protect your enamel.

How to strengthen enamel

One of the most effective ways to strengthen enamel is with fluoride. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that strengthens enamel, helping to defend your teeth against harmful acids – the kind you get from some foods and bacteria. Fluoride also helps prevent tooth decay by repairing the weak spots in your teeth before they become cavities.

You can help keep your enamel strong by choosing toothpastes and mouth washes that contain fluoride. Even your tap water is likely to contain healthy levels of fluoride; 89% of people in Australia have access to fluoridated drinking water, thanks to a public health initiative to improve dental health around the country.

The best (and worst) foods for dental health

What you eat has a big impact on your dental health, too. Some foods naturally support enamel, while others can contribute to tooth decay.

Dairy products like cheese, milk and yogurt are all great sources of calcium that can help strengthen your teeth. Leafy green vegetables like broccoli and spinach will do the same. You can even snack on crunchy vegetables like celery or carrot for a natural teeth cleaner; plus, all that chewing will help stimulate saliva flow, which is essential for healthy teeth.

On the other hand, foods that can damage your teeth tend to be acidic, sugary and sticky – things like carbonated drinks, fruit juices, lollies, and dried fruits. You can help reduce the damage done by these foods by eating them at mealtimes, not as snacks throughout the day. For example, eating a piece of cheese after eating something acidic can help your teeth kickstart their repair process.

Read more: 10 foods for clean, healthy teeth

Should you take vitamins for strong teeth?

When it comes to vitamins for strong teeth, calcium often takes the spotlight, but other nutrients play a vital role in our dental health too – in particular, phosphorus and vitamin D. Phosphorus helps calcium do its job by maximising its bone-strengthening potential, which is especially important for children’s teeth. And Vitamin D helps your body absorb enough calcium and phosphorous to keep your teeth strong.

Meat, poultry, wheat and nuts are all great sources of phosphorus, while vitamin D can be found in eggs, some cereals, and oily fish.

There are plenty of natural sources of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D, and plenty of ways to incorporate them into a healthy diet. If you’re worried about your diet’s effect on your dental health, speak to your GP or a Medibank Members’ Choice Advantage dentist before taking any vitamins or supplements.

Do some people get cavities more easily? 

In Australia, 1 in 3 people over the age of 15 has untreated tooth decay. Things like a high consumption of sugar, alcohol and tobacco all increase a person’s risk of developing tooth decay and cavities (holes in your teeth).

Early tooth decay has no symptoms, so it’s important to have regular check-ups with your dentist – about every 6 months. Between dental check-ups, you can help reduce your risk of developing cavities by eating a healthy and balanced diet, brushing and flossing regularly, and opting for fluoridated water and toothpastes.

Read more: 7 ways to prevent cavities