Noninvasive strategies to support remineralization are important components of the modern caries prevention continuum.- and On May 8, 2013
On the ABC
Health Report of 26 August 2013 Dr Peter Arsenault
of Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston
said
“Dental disease is the world's most widespread
disease...With the knowledge we have today we can halt
this disease and reverse it...and never have to put a drill or cut into that
living tissue of the tooth.”
So what is this “knowledge we have today” that you can use to reverse tooth decay and avoid drilling and filling?
The essence of it is that our teeth are not simply chunks of enamel on a one way road to decay.
They are a living
cellular matrix that attracts and assembles the
minerals needed to create strong hard tooth enamel and
to regenerate
that strong enamel after it has been weakened by
the acids that frequently form in the mouth.
These essential tooth-building minerals are dissolved in the saliva that constantly surrounds the teeth.
In healthy teeth the absorption of minerals into the teeth is in balance with the loss of minerals that happens when the mouth becomes acidic, for example when eating acidic foods or when some bacteria turn sugar into lactic acid.
The movement of minerals into and out of the teeth can be compared to the constant deposition and erosion of sand on a beach.
The old model of teeth as inanimate chunks of enamel has led us to focus our tooth care on reducing the loss of minerals from the tooth structure, but has left us ignorant of the importance of increasing the absorption of minerals back into the cellular tooth matrix.
Two simple techniques will allow you to stimulate the Re-Mineralisation of your teeth, and restore a balance with the De-Mineralisation that is certain to happen, no matter how much you brush and floss.
They are
Chewing Xylitol gum and
Spitting but not rinsing when you brush your teeth.
Here's an explanation of how these simple habits help your teeth to absorb the minerals needed to prevent the development of tooth decay.
1. Chewing any gum stimulates the Re-Mineralisation of teeth by increasing the flow of mineral rich saliva in your mouth, but sugar-free Xylitol gum works best because it also starves the acid producing bacteria that need sugar to survive.
Starving the bacteria also reduces the plaque they produce, and in which they shelter from your efforts to brush them away.
So in one hit, Xylitol gum stimulates
the supply of minerals to your teeth, starves the acid
producing bacteria and removes the plaque in which those
bacteria can hide. Although hard to find in shops,
Xylitol gum is easily bought online. Check out https://www.plunketts.com.au/xylitol-dental-gum/
and https://www.naturallysweet.com.au/dental/gum/
Recaldent
is another sugar-free gum formulated with added minerals
that are designed to stick to your teeth and so enhance
Re-Mineralisation of tooth enamel. It is available
online at Naturalex_Australia
2. Spitting but not rinsing after brushing your teeth works because it leaves a coating of the mineral enriched toothpaste on your teeth, where it can be easily absorbed into the enamel. While most toothpastes contain some minerals, some are formulated to maximise the re-mineralisation of teeth. Here's a summary of the most common brands.
Sensodyne "Repair and Protect" toothpaste with Novamin is readily available in Australian supermarkets and pharmacies.
3M Clinpro toothpaste is available at Chemistdirect.com.au
Recaldent toothpaste is available on Amazon.
More information on dental hygiene
Noninvasive strategies to support remineralization are important components of the modern caries prevention continuum.- Piroska Szalma, RDH, MS and Sarah Yoon, RDH, BA On May 8, 2013