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Any way to rebuild enamel ?

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 7:31 pm
by wearetheborg
I feel let lown by my dentist. I've been going regulalrly to him, and earlier I was mainly being lectured about keeping my gums healthy.
A few months ago I developed sensitivity to cold and to sour foods.
So I specifically asked him.
He then told me 1) Some of my roots had become exposed due to braces and 2)My enamel had worn off in a couple of teeth.
Um helloooo, you didnt notice it in your chekups ??? White spots have been developing all over my teeth now (probably because I eat sweets often and dont immediately bursh afterwords)

I asked him if enamel can be rebuilt, he said no. He also said enamel had probably worn off as I eat nuts and the fiber in nuts wears off the enamel.

Is it true ? Is there any way to rebuild enamel ?

Yes I should have been more deligent, but I;m heartbroken that dentist didnt tell me earlier about enamel loss :(
Is there any hope for my enamel ?

Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 9:32 pm
by ItsGavinC
There is no way to rebuild enamel. Those white spots you see are places where the enamel has become demineralized (they are the beginnings of a cavity). You can apply fluoride varnish to them, or simply use a flouride rinse in the evenings and they will remineralize in ~6 months time. The white spots will not go away, however.

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2007 12:20 am
by wearetheborg
How is reminieralisation different from rebuilding enamel ? :?:

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2007 9:37 am
by SDFD TSchott
Here is an article for you to read, all I did was go to google and typed in how to rebuild tooth enamel and ran accrosed this article about foods;

A beautiful smile and healthy mouth actually can come from in addition to regular brushing and flossing a daily diet that does not lack the essential vitamins and minerals that make vital contributions to a person’s oral health. Many people overlook the importance of good nutrition in keeping their smile beautiful and their mouth healthy. Find out 10 foods for making your smile more healthy and beautiful:

1. Celery - Protects Teeth from Cavities
Celery protects your teeth in two ways, says Lana Rozenberg, D.D.S., a holistic dentist and founder of Rozenberg Dental Day Spa in New York City. The extra chewing it requires produces plenty of saliva, which neutralizes the bacteria Streptococcus mutans that causes cavities. Additionally, chomping on naturally abrasive foods massages gums and cleans between teeth. Try This: Snack on a handful of raw celery or carrots once a day.

2. Cheese - Preserves and Rebuild Tooth Enamel
Studies from the last decade show that cheese, with its low carbohydrate and high calcium and phosphate content, provides several benefits for your teeth. It helps balance your mouth’s pH (an acidic pH encourages the growth of cavity-causing bacteria). Cheese also preserves and rebuilds tooth enamel and produces saliva, which kills the bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease. Try This: Enjoy a 1-inch cube (about 1/2 ounce) of cheese after dinner instead of a sweet dessert.

3. Green Tea - Removes Plaque and Bad Breath
Green tea (Camellia sinensis) contains substances called catechins that kill the bacteria in your mouth that turn sugar into plaque (a sticky mass of bacteria, sugars, proteins, and fats that produces cavity-causing acid when it comes in contact with sugary or starchy foods). Catechins also wipe out the bacteria that cause bad breath. Try This: Drink 2 to 5 cups of green tea (regular or decaffeinated) a day, says Mindy Green, director of research at the Herb Research Foundation in Boulder, Colo. Consider making a thermos of green tea to drink at work. The night before, steep 3 to 4 green tea bags in 4 cups of boiling-hot water in a covered thermos for three to five minutes. Remove the bags. Serve the tea the next day over ice or after reheating it.

4. Kiwis - Prevents Gum Disease
For their size, kiwis pack more vitamin C than any other fruit. In fact, one large kiwi supplies more than 100 percent of your recommended daily amount. If you don’t get enough vitamin C, research shows that the collagen network in your gums can break down, making your gums tender and more susceptible to the bacteria that cause periodontal (gum) disease. Try This: Instead of topping your morning oatmeal with brown sugar, use a sliced kiwi.

5. Onions - Kills Bad for Mouth Bacteria
Onions contain powerful antibacterial sulfur compounds. In a 1997 test tube study, onions killed various types of bacteria, including S. mutans. Research indicates that they are most powerful when eaten freshly peeled and raw. Of course, raw onions can do a number on your breath, so be sure to have some fresh parsley on hand (see below). Try This: Add a few onion slices to salads and sandwiches each day.

6. Parsley - Bad Breath Remedy and Sweet-Smelling Breath Creator
Chewing parsley or mint leaves after a pungent meal will help you maintain sweet-smelling breath. These herbs contain monoterpenes, volatile substances that travel quickly from your bloodstream to your lungs, where their odor is released via your breath. Try This: Top zesty dishes with a few tablespoons of minced fresh parsley or garnish dessert with a few sprigs of fresh mint.

7. Sesame Seeds - Cleaning Teeth and Removing Plaque
According to fossils, our Paleolithic ancestors had great teeth. Anthropologists suggest that this is partly due to the cleansing action of primitive foods like seeds, which slough off plaque and help build tooth enamel. Sesame seeds, for example, are also high in calcium, which helps preserve the bone around your teeth and gums. Try This: Sprinkle a tablespoon of sesame seeds on salads and steamed vegetables a few times a week for a gentle teeth cleaning and 87 mg of calcium.

8. Shiitake Mushrooms - Prevents from Creating Plaque
A 2000 study in Caries Research showed that lentinan, a sugar found in shiitake mushrooms, prevents mouth bacteria from creating plaque. Try This: A few times a week, add four to five sliced shiitakes to soups or stir-fries. Buy fresh shiitakes or dried ones, which can be reconstituted by soaking them in hot water for about 25 minutes before use.

9. Wasabi - Protect Teeth from Cavities
Otherwise known as Japanese horse-radish, this condiment not only provides zing to sushi, it also protects your teeth. A 2000 study in Biofactors revealed that the substances that make wasabi taste hot, called isothiocyanates, also inhibit the growth of cavity-causing bacteria. Try This: Eating wasabi a few times a week will protect you from cavities. For a smile-saving salad dressing, combine 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon wasabi paste, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, and 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil.

10. Water - Keeps Teeth and Gums Health
Drinking water keeps your gums hydrated and is the best way to stimulate saliva - your body’s greatest defense against the bacteria that cause plaque and cavities. Rinsing your mouth with water also helps wash away trapped food particles that decompose in the mouth and cause bad breath. Try This: Aim to drink six 8-ounce glasses of purified water throughout each day to keep your gums (and whole body) hydrated and to stimulate saliva. If you can’t brush your teeth after eating, be sure to rinse your mouth with water.


http://dent.info.md/dental-care/foods-beautiful-smile/

Re: Any way to rebuild enamel ?

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 12:51 am
by wearetheborg
KK wrote:
It can be caused by poor cleaning, but there's no proven need to clean immediately after eating sweets ... what is important is, to make sure when you do clean your teeth and gums, that you do it correctly.



I disagree. I now think its imperative to clean immediately after eating sweets. As far as I understand, when we eat sweets, bacteria consume remaining sugar in mouth, and excrete acids. These acids are what cause deminieralisation. At the same time, saliva is trying to make the mouth alkaline. After a while, the bacteria have consumed the sugar in mouth and saliva manages to make the mouth alkaline.
This is why the frequency of eating sweets matters more than the absolute amount.
It stands to reason that brusinig immediately would decrease the sugar in mouth, and help in mouth reaching a positive PH sooner.

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 7:12 am
by wearetheborg
rinsing with water makes sense. Now you have created serious doubts in my mind about brushing immediately after sweets.

With regard to cheese, I think it makes the mouth alkaline. Also it has calcium, so alkalin+Ca helps in remineralisation.

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 7:28 am
by wearetheborg
How about rinsing the mouth (to decrease the acidity level), then brushing ?

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 10:45 am
by ellebee
I think prescription toothpastes, like Gel-Cam, that are very high in Flouride may help rebuild enamel. Check with a dentist to be sure.

Elle

Re: Any way to rebuild enamel ?

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 1:35 pm
by rsprouse
I disagree. I now think its imperative to clean immediately after eating sweets. As far as I understand, when we eat sweets, bacteria consume remaining sugar in mouth, and excrete acids. These acids are what cause deminieralisation. At the same time, saliva is trying to make the mouth alkaline. After a while, the bacteria have consumed the sugar in mouth and saliva manages to make the mouth alkaline.
This is why the frequency of eating sweets matters more than the absolute amount.
It stands to reason that brusinig immediately would decrease the sugar in mouth, and help in mouth reaching a positive PH sooner.
This is an accurate statement. The key points here are that frequency (not quantity) of sugar consumption plays the largest role in tooth decay. You can get emphatic about brushing right away, rinsing right away, standing on your head, hopping on one foot, whatever you want. It really doesn't matter, the point is that as soon as sugar gets into your mouth strep mutans (among other things) go to town and start eating away your tooth structure. The point is that enamel will demineralize and remineralize over and over. The longer you keep your teeth free from bacteria the better. The more often teeth come into contact with bacteria the higher chance you will have decay. You can rush to rinse or brush asap, but it is not going to help significantly. If you do a good job of brushing 3x/day and flossing at least 1x/day then you will likely not develop much in the cavity department (assuming you are "normal"). It is much more important to do a thorough cleaning than to more frequently clean. Ever wonder why most people don't have cavities on the front of a tooth? It's almost always in a crevice that is hard to clean. Because plaque doesn't often adhere to smooth surfaces unless there is something to hold it there.

Whatever technique you do to keep your mouth cavity free is fine as long as it works for you. And regular prophy's and check ups are always a good help.

Good luck,
Rory

Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 3:03 am
by wearetheborg
But if food is stuck in between teeth, wont the bacteria constantly leach acid ? In this case, wont brushing immediiately after eating food be better ?

Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 3:59 pm
by lizzoo
ok so I have a question to Karen: I drink orange juice in the morning with my breakfast, so should I not brush after breakfast since OJ is acidic? i never knew it wasn't good to brush after eating/drinking something acidic.[/code]

Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 5:26 pm
by lizzoo
Thanks, Karen! I can definitely do that every morning.

Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 7:11 pm
by wearetheborg
KK wrote:Lizzoo ... my ortho's advice (plus my dentist and perio) would be to rinse your mouth out with water (or warm salt water) several times ... wait about 30 minutes ... then brush.

Hope that helps! :banana:
For liquid foods (juice etc), this makes perfect sense, as sugar/acid can just be wshed away.
I'm not so sure this applies to solid foods too...

Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 3:12 pm
by nickym
My teeth are also prone to erosion and my dentist suggested to rinse out with water after acidic foods or drinks and/ or wait 30 mins before brushing. I have also heard that it is not possible to rebuild enamel. I've heard somewhere that rinsing out the mouth with milk after acidic foods and drinks could also be good to do, does that sound right? Presumably as long as you still brush afterwards that would be ok?