I've tried the calcium-rich diet thing too, and while it did help with sensitivity somewhat, I honestly think its effects are pretty limited. From what my dentist explained, once enamel's truly gone, diet alone isn't going to bring it back—not even close. Fluoride toothpaste definitely helped me more noticeably, but if you're really struggling, a fluoride rinse or treatment could be worth looking into. Natural approaches are great, but sometimes a little extra dental intervention makes all the difference... at least that's been my experience.
Totally agree with you on the fluoride treatments—they've been beneficial for me as well. From my experience, dietary changes alone did ease sensitivity a bit, but didn't really solve the underlying issue. My dentist mentioned something similar about enamel loss being irreversible. I was initially hesitant about fluoride rinses (overthinking side effects, you know...) but after trying it out for a few weeks, it noticeably reduced sensitivity during meals. Sometimes, the natural stuff just isn't enough on its own.
I've had a slightly different experience with this. While I agree fluoride treatments can help manage sensitivity, I'm not entirely convinced they're the only effective solution. From what I've read and personally experienced, enamel itself doesn't exactly "regrow," but remineralization can happen naturally under the right conditions.
A few years back, I had pretty noticeable sensitivity issues, especially with cold drinks and acidic foods. Fluoride rinses did help temporarily, but I wanted something more sustainable long-term. After doing some digging around, I found out that saliva plays a huge role in remineralizing enamel naturally—provided your diet and oral hygiene support it.
Here's the thing: saliva contains minerals like calcium and phosphate, which can actually help strengthen weakened enamel if given enough opportunity. The key is creating an environment where your teeth aren't constantly under acid attack. For me, that meant cutting back significantly on acidic drinks (even sparkling water was a culprit for me) and sugary snacks between meals. I also started chewing sugar-free gum after meals to boost saliva production—sounds trivial, but it genuinely made a noticeable difference over time.
I'm not saying fluoride isn't useful—it definitely has its place—but relying solely on fluoride treatments without addressing underlying dietary habits or saliva production might not be the most comprehensive approach. It's more about creating a balanced oral environment that allows your teeth to naturally remineralize as much as possible.
Of course, everyone's different, and what worked for me might not be enough for someone else dealing with severe enamel erosion. But it's worth considering that natural methods aren't necessarily ineffective—they just require patience and consistency to see results.
Interesting points about saliva—I hadn't really thought about its role before. I had similar sensitivity issues, and switching to a toothpaste with hydroxyapatite actually helped me quite a bit. It's supposed to mimic the minerals naturally found in enamel, and after a few months, I noticed less sensitivity overall. Curious if anyone else has tried hydroxyapatite-based products and seen improvements?
"switching to a toothpaste with hydroxyapatite actually helped me quite a bit."
I've had similar results with hydroxyapatite toothpaste—noticed less sensitivity after about two months. But I'm curious, has anyone tried pairing it with dietary changes like reducing acidic foods? Wondering if that speeds things up...
