Dental News

Can Teeth Heal Themselves?

December 24, 2014

Learn how to support they body’s natural ability to restore weakened tooth enamel through remineralization.

Can Teeth Heal ThemselvesThe human body has the ability to repair damage to just about every system of the body, and this includes teeth. However, only very mild damage to teeth can be restored naturally, without intervention from a dentist.

What Teeth Are Made Of

Teeth contain four different kinds of tissues. The innermost is the pulp, a soft tissue containing nerves and blood vessels. The vulnerable pulp is protected by hard layers of cementum, dentin, and enamel. Enamel is the outermost and most important layer of protection. Enamel is one of the hardest substances in the body—stronger even than bone. It is made up of a network of tightly packed crystals of calcium phosphates.

Why Remineralization Is Important

While enamel is strong enough to withstand the everyday stresses of biting and chewing, it is vulnerable to damage from acid erosion from plaque bacteria or from overly acidic foods and drinks. Once too much damage has occurred, the dentin may become exposed, which opens a path for stimuli to reach the nerves in the pulp of the tooth and cause pain or sensitivity. Fortunately, the body has a natural means of limiting the damage done by acid erosion, namely remineralization. In this process, minerals carried in saliva become deposited on the enamel, strengthening it and improving its ability to resist acid erosion. While remineralization can help rebuild enamel to some degree, it will never restore damaged enamel to its original strength and hardness.

Supporting Remineralization

The two most important factors affecting remineralization are diet and oral hygiene.

Diet is important because adequate quantities of the necessary minerals need to be present in your body in order for them to be used to remineralize teeth. However, it is also possible to get some of these minerals using a specially formulated toothpaste.

Oral hygiene is important because for remineralization to be effective, it must outpace or at least keep up with the rate at which enamels is being lost to acid erosion. Brushing, flossing, and chewing sugarless gum are all important means of controlling the populations of plaque bacteria on teeth and preventing them from causing rampant enamel loss.

When Is Remineralization Not Enough?

Remineralization can only restore very minor damage to teeth. Typically, by the time you have developed a cavity that is causing pain, you need treatment from a dentist. At California Dental Group, we can assist with the speedy detection and treatment of cavities. We recommend white composite fillings as the most attractive and holistic method of protecting your teeth.

Read Our Reviews