Author of the article:
Soldatova Lyudmila Nikolaevna
Candidate of Medical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Clinical Dentistry of the St. Petersburg Medical and Social Institute, Chief Physician of the Alfa-Dent Dental Clinic, St. Petersburg
Enamel is the hardest part of the tooth. This tissue consists of enameloblasts, proteins, lipids and water. Although, at first glance, the enamel has a uniform structure, this is not the case. It varies in thickness in different areas of the teeth. But, unfortunately, even the strongest enamel on teeth can begin to wear off. How to prevent this unpleasant process? Let's try to figure it out.
Is it possible to restore tooth enamel?
Tooth enamel consists of 96% calcium, phosphorus and other inorganic substances. The remaining 4% is water and protein compounds. Over time, the dental covering becomes thinner naturally due to the lack and leaching of microelements, in particular calcium salts. When the condition of the enamel deteriorates, bacteria and acids penetrate the dentin, causing caries and other diseases.
Unfortunately, tooth enamel is unable to regenerate on its own. However, modern dentistry has effective procedures for its restoration and saturation with useful elements.
Kiwi
These small fruits contain much more vitamin C than many others. For example, one fairly large fruit almost completely covers the daily requirement of the vitamin, which is very important for gum health. Research by scientists from a medical center in Sydney has shown that with a deficiency of vitamin C in the body, collagen production decreases, tissues become more vulnerable to bacteria, gums begin to bleed, and periodontal disease may even develop.
What to do . Add one kiwi fruit, cut into slices, to your porridge (preferably oatmeal) in the morning.
Methods for restoring tooth enamel
Depending on the nature of the damage, the following methods are used to restore enamel.
- Fluoridation.
The surface is treated with a professional varnish with a high fluorine content to seal cracks and scratches. - Enamel implantation.
In order to mask irregularities and improve color, the tooth is coated in layers with a synthetic composition similar to natural dental tissue. - Filling.
The technology is used in cases of chips and fractures. Using photopolymer composites, the doctor builds the tooth to the desired size. - Veneering.
Ceramic onlays are fixed on the outside of the teeth to correct aesthetic defects.
All of the listed procedures for restoring tooth enamel in Moscow are carried out in almost every clinic. The most affordable is fluoridation - from 60 rubles per tooth. The installation of veneers is considered the most expensive - from 10,000 rubles for one microprosthesis.
Horseradish
It is not only a seasoning for many dishes; research by doctors at the Center for Alternative Medicine of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences has shown that horseradish reliably protects teeth and gums. The fact is that the substances that give horseradish a burning taste also prevent the proliferation of bacteria responsible for the occurrence of caries.
What to do. Horseradish should appear on your table several times a week. You can add it to salad sauces. Take 1 teaspoon of grated horseradish, 1 teaspoon of soy sauce, 1 tbsp. spoon of honey, 3 tbsp. spoons of rice wine vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon of sesame oil, mix thoroughly and season a fresh vegetable salad with this mixture. You can dissolve half a teaspoon of grated horseradish in a glass of warm water and rinse your teeth with this solution after eating.
How to restore tooth enamel at home?
Restoring tooth enamel at home is only possible to a small extent. Folk or pharmacy remedies are not able to compensate for the entire deficiency of inorganic components. The only advantage of improvised methods is their affordable cost. The primacy in efficiency clearly belongs to professional procedures in a dental clinic.
Means for strengthening tooth enamel
There are many different ways to strengthen tooth enamel at home using grandma's recipes or appropriate drugs from the pharmacy.
Products to strengthen tooth enamel
Products for strengthening tooth enamel contain substances that have a beneficial effect on the condition of teeth. White cabbage, oranges and kiwis are rich in vitamin C and amino acids that break down pigmented areas. Hard cheeses, cottage cheese and milk saturate dentin with calcium to strengthen tooth enamel. Sesame seeds, celery and parsley will help effectively rid your smile of plaque. It is also recommended to rinse your mouth with chamomile and calendula tincture, wipe your teeth with a mixture of seaweed, basil and sage, or add eggshell powder to your food.
Toothpastes with fluoride
Fluoridated toothpaste for restoring enamel Curasept ADS 705 is the best prevention of caries. Fluoride helps strengthen and remineralize tissue, prevents the appearance of small stains and “seals” scratches.
Hydroxyapatite
Hydroxyapatite is part of natural tooth enamel. Toothpastes with this substance are today considered the most effective means of restoring enamel. Hydroxyapatite crystals fill cracks and damage, thereby restoring the tooth surface.
Theobromine
Theobromine is a substance obtained from cocoa beans. According to clinical studies by Theodent, it not only has a strengthening effect on the enamel, but also provokes the regeneration of dental tissue.
Firming gels and mousses
Pharmacy gels and mousses strengthen tooth enamel due to mineral elements that maintain the balance of oral microflora. The Biorepair teeth strengthening kit includes not only a restoring gel, but also a special mouth guard, which is very convenient and increases the effectiveness of the procedure.
Vitamins of groups B and D improve the absorption of beneficial components into the body and have a positive effect on the condition of the enamel layer, gums and bones. Contained in foods such as eggs, beans, wheat germ, fish, vegetable oil, etc.
Sesame
Archaeological excavations confirm that those tribes of ancient people who traditionally had plant seeds as a significant part of their diet had very strong teeth. Sesame seeds remove plaque and strengthen enamel and are also rich in calcium, which protects not only bones, but also teeth from destruction.
What to do. Add a tablespoon of sesame seeds to salads or vegetable dishes 2-3 times a week. This will give you an additional 87 mg of calcium.
What is the cost of restoring tooth enamel?
The cost of restoring tooth enamel using home methods is low; healthy products, ordinary hygiene products, infusions and herbs can be purchased at any pharmacies and stores without compromising your budget. For specialized pastes and gels you will have to pay a little more - from 400 rubles per tube.
Professional methods mask aesthetic defects and prevent further tooth decay. Homemade - help strengthen the enamel layer. However, it will not be possible to completely restore the health of damaged enamel. Simple rules will help maintain its integrity - preventive examinations at the dentist, proper nutrition and giving up bad habits.
Celery
English doctors from the Oxford John Radcliffe Hospital have proven that celery is very good for dental health. If you use it every day, it protects your teeth twice. First, celery leaves require thorough chewing, during which saliva is released, which neutralizes bacteria. Secondly, during the chewing process, the gums are massaged and the teeth are cleaned of plaque.
What to do. Chew a stalk of celery or a small carrot once a day as an afternoon snack. Or add celery to salads and mix with fresh cottage cheese and other herbs.
Causes of tooth and gum destruction
The main factor that destroys dental tissue is caries, a common disease of our time. This is a chronic infectious disease that contributes to the development of otitis media, gastrointestinal infections, and sinusitis. Gradually, caries develops into pulpitis, the treatment of which involves removing the nerve from the root, after which the tooth dies and does not last long. Let's look at what factors are harmful to bone tissue:
In addition to damage to tooth enamel, under the influence of negative factors, gum disease develops and teeth become loose. The reasons for weakening gums are:
- injuries, especially in boxers;
- infectious diseases (stomatitis, gingivitis, periodontitis);
- periodontal disease, when the tooth first peels off from the gum, becomes loose, and then falls out;
- weakened immune system;
- avitaminosis;
- malocclusion causing uneven distribution of pressure on the teeth;
- individual genetic characteristics;
- chronic diseases.
Water
Russian dentists recommend drinking enough water to avoid dehydration. In addition, drinking water allows you to produce a sufficient amount of saliva, and this is a natural neutralizer of harmful bacteria. Do not forget to rinse your mouth more often, this will help you get rid of food debris in a timely manner, the rotting of which contributes to caries and bad breath.
What to do. Drink at least 6 glasses of pure or mineral water throughout the day. After every meal, rinse your mouth or brush your teeth.
Onion
This vegetable contains so many natural antibacterial substances that it can destroy a huge number of different bacteria. This fact has long been confirmed by numerous scientific studies. We try to avoid fresh onions due to bad breath. And this is wrong, because it can be neutralized by other means: chew a sprig of parsley or eat a refreshing menthol tablet.
What to do. Every day, add at least a few rings of fresh onions to your salad or add them to your sandwiches.
Green tea
American doctors have discovered that the catechins contained in the infusion of green tea leaves are lethal to bacteria that cause caries. They also get rid of bad breath.
What to do. Drink at least 2-5 cups of regular or decaffeinated green tea every day. For convenience, take a thermos with tea brewed the day before to work or on trips. Pour 4 cups of boiling water into a thermos, add 3-4 teaspoons of green tea. After five minutes, strain and the healing drink is ready. Drink it after lunch and every snack, cold or hot, preferably without sugar. You can add milk to tea.
Shiitake mushrooms
Recently, American and Japanese doctors have been paying the most serious attention to studying the beneficial properties of these mushrooms. In addition to the beneficial effect on the immune system, it turned out that these mushrooms contain special substances that prevent the growth of bacteria in the oral cavity.
What to do. Add 4-5 sliced shiitake mushrooms to soups or vegetable side dishes 2-3 times a week. Both fresh and dried mushrooms are equally useful. The latter completely restore their properties when soaked for 25 minutes in hot water.
