Regrowing vs. Remineralizing Tooth Enamel

Can you regrow tooth enamel? Unfortunately, the answer is no—at least not yet. Once enamel is lost, it’s gone for good. Unlike other tissues in your body, such as skin or bones that can regenerate, enamel doesn’t have living cells in it. That means human teeth cannot heal or regrow enamel. So, if you’ve ever heard someone say they’re “regrowing” their tooth enamel, that’s a myth.

The Good News: Remineralization

While we can’t regrow enamel right now, we can remineralize it! Remineralization is the process of restoring minerals to your enamel that have been lost due to acid exposure—whether from food, drinks, or the bacteria in your mouth.

Remineralization helps combat tooth decay by replenishing the minerals in your enamel, making it stronger and more resistant to cavities.

When you hear about toothpaste that strengthens enamel, what it’s really doing is helping to remineralize the enamel that’s still there, making it more resistant to future damage.

How Does Remineralization Work?

Certain ingredients in toothpaste, such as fluoride and hydroxyapatite, help replace lost minerals in your enamel or enhance what’s already there. Here’s how:

• Fluoride: Fluoride binds to weakened enamel, helping to reinforce it and making it more resistant to cavities.
• Hydroxyapatite: This is a naturally occurring mineral in your teeth, and when used in toothpaste, it mimics the structure of enamel to fill in weak spots and strengthen the tooth surface.

Simply put, these minerals fill in tiny cracks and weak spots in your enamel, making it stronger and more resistant to acid attacks, helping to prevent cavities and protect your natural teeth.

Will We Ever Be Able to Achieve Tooth Regrowth?

Maybe! There’s some exciting research happening in the field of regenerative medicine that suggests one day we might be able to regrow teeth—including enamel! Some studies are even looking at ways to stimulate stem cells in teeth to regrow lost enamel. Tooth regeneration therapy holds potential for future dental treatments by stimulating dormant dental stem cells to regenerate tooth structure, such as enamel and dentin. But as of now, we’re not quite there yet.

The Best Approach: Dental Hygiene, Prevention & Protection

Since we can’t regrow enamel, your best bet is to focus on protecting and remineralizing your enamel with good oral hygiene habits. While dental implants are a well-established solution for tooth loss, they are not a substitute for the potential future ability to regrow enamel.

✅ Brush twice a day with fluoride (such as sodium fluoride or stannous fluoride) or hydroxyapatite (such as 10% nano-hydroxyapatite) toothpaste.

✅ Floss or clean between your teeth at least once a day.

✅ Limit acidic foods and drinks to reduce enamel erosion.

✅ Visit your dentist regularly for checkups, cleanings, and preventive care.

Final Recap: Combating Tooth Decay

Regrowing enamel? Not possible (yet!).

Remineralizing enamel? Absolutely possible! Use fluoride or 10% nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste to strengthen and protect the enamel you have.

Prevention is key! Maintain a solid oral hygiene routine to keep your enamel strong and prevent tooth loss.

Pro Tip: If you want to create the perfect oral care routine to prevent dental issues and costly visits, be sure to sign up for our free oral care guide!