How to Keep Your Teeth Strong

Having bright, beautiful teeth depends on more than just brushing twice a day. It also depends on the strength of your enamel, the outermost layer of your teeth and the first line of defense against daily wear and tear. What you eat and drink, or even certain medical conditions or medications, can strip away the minerals that make your enamel so strong. And your genetics and early childhood experiences might also play a role in how tough your teeth are and how susceptible they are to cavities.

Here’s what dentists want you to know about what weakens your teeth, and how to keep them strong.

What causes weak teeth?

Some people simply have thinner or more brittle enamel. This can be the result of relatively rare genetic disorders, such as amelogenesis imperfecta. But more often enamel issues are associated with environmental factors that could disrupt its formation in utero or in early childhood, said Dr. Isabelle Chase, director of the pediatric dental residency program at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine.

Research has linked prenatal health issues like vitamin D deficiency or gestational diabetes to greater incidence of enamel defects in children. Some studies have also suggested that malnutrition in infancy and early childhood diseases like measles, pneumonia or even frequent high fevers may be linked to weaker enamel.

The weaker the enamel, the more sensitive your teeth are, especially to heat or cold. You may also be more prone to cavities, Dr. Chase said.

In older teens and adults, acidic foods and drinks cause most of the enamel erosion that dentists see, Dr. Chase said. These include fruit juices, sports drinks, sodas, sparkling water and foods that have vinegar, like pickles. Coffee, while somewhat acidic, is not as erosive as citrus drinks and sodas.