Early detection of demineralization or weakening or wearing of enamel can save one from permanent tooth loss. Following precautionary measures can be taken to fix demineralization of teeth:
Intake of proper, healthy as well as well-balanced diet can help in address early stage tooth demineralization in a very precise manner. In-take of calcium rich foods that help to strengthen the enamel and cutting off too much acidic foods from the diet can avoid bacterial growth on the enamel. This helps to fix demineralization of teeth.
Increasing the usage of good quality fluoride toothpaste not only helps in the strengthening of enamel but also fixes demineralization teeth.
Brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day will also help to avoid bacterial plaque accumulation proving themselves as the most effective cure towards prevention of demineralization of teeth.
Increased saliva also prevents enamel weakening (enamel demineralization) by washing away the dead bacterial debris in the mouth (which produces foul smell). Elevated saliva production can be ensured by the increased water uptake and chewing sugar-free medicated gum.
However, despite of all the resolving factors for tooth demineralization, one should necessarily take it into account that sometimes a dental check-up is a must.
What causes teeth demineralization?
The major culprit of the demineralization of teeth is the well-known, plaque. Plaque is basically a thin film of bacterial debris that forms on the enamel of tooth due to the increased intake of too much acidic or sugary food. Accumulation of plaque on the gum line as well on the enamel of the teeth leads to its gradual weakening and then at last to its severe and extreme erosion. As a result, the enamel slowly wears off exposing the dentin leading of early stage tooth demineralization. It is basically caused due to the loss of necessary minerals from the teeth such as calcium and phosphate. Other than that exposure to teeth to excessive fizzy drinks or citrus foods can also cause erosion of enamel.
Brushing teeth with a toothbrush having very hard bristles and flossing with a bad quality floss can also destroy enamel and lead to enamel demineralization.
What’s the harm in teeth demineralization?
Well, demineralization of teeth is much more harmful than it seems to be. It can cause unrepairable damage to your beautiful smile by several ways:
Possible harm to smile aesthetics: Demineralization teeth can lead to severely destroyed smile aesthetics. As a result of demineralization/weakening of enamel, the yellow or slightly darker colored dentin is exposed due to which smile aesthetics are destroyed as the teeth appears yellow now.
Formation of cavity/holes: As a result of demineralization of teeth, small microscopic cavities/holes form on the inner side of enamel which extend to dentin. These holes become the reservoir for the bacteria of the mouth providing them the necessary nutrients for nourishment in the form of food debris. This, if left unchecked, can proceed further and can lead to tooth fillings or even worse than that, for instance, tooth loss.
Increased Sensitivity: The exposure of yellowish colored sensitive dentin is led by the weakening of enamel or early stage tooth demineralization. As a consequence, the teeth become vulnerable to all type of extremely cold, hot and sour beverages and food.
Does tooth demineralization affect orthodontic treatment?
The answer to this commonly asked question is “YES”, unfortunately. Tooth demineralization can affect orthodontic treatment to some extent. Tooth demineralization during orthodontic treatment is caused due to most commonly used dental appliances such as braces. Due to the application of braces, tooth demineralization occurs which ultimately leads to exposed dentin and sometimes even the creation of small microscopic holes in the enamel called as “Cavities”.
Demineralization of teeth often becomes big barrier in the orthodontic treatments because at the time of a long-term dental treatment, teeth are very prone to decay. That’s why during orthodontic treatments, dentist usually recommends to increase the calcium intake in diet in order to prevent any sort of complications in the future.
Following are some precautionary measures/preventive measures which can be taken during orthodontic treatment to avoid demineralization of teeth:
- Routine check-ups at the dentist.
- Brushing teeth with a really good quality brush and fluoride toothpaste.
- Cutting off excessively sugary or acidic food from the diet.
- Maintaining a good, proper and regular oral hygiene. This includes the use of an antiseptic mouthwash to remove the film of bacteria from the mouth, especially from the tongue and brushing/flossing your teeth at least twice a day.
Can demineralization of teeth be reversed?
Yes, detection of early stage tooth demineralization can help in its reversal to some extent. This process of reversing demineralized teeth back to normal teeth is called “Remineralization”. This process is aided by the reloading of calcium and phosphate back into the demineralized tooth.
This can be done either by increasing the uptake of calcium rich foods in your normal diet. Calcium rich diet contains vitamin D and vitamin K which helps in the replenishment of calcium and phosphate in the demineralized tooth. Other than that, fluoride is game changer too. Its increased usage cannot only keeps the teeth healthy but can also reverse demineralization of teeth. Avoiding too much sugary and acidic food/stuff results in strengthened enamel.
On the other hand, it is necessary to take into consideration that if in case the demineralization progresses up to cavity formation, so it is utterly impossible to bring back the lost enamel. Thus keen attention and professional dental advice is really important to avoid demineralization of teeth.