Do enamel toothpastes actually help build back enamel?

“If your enamel is destroyed, your body does not make more to replace it. Unlike other parts of your body – like your bones, for instance – enamel does not contain any living cells, so it cannot regenerate.” Souce

From what I’ve read, expensive “enamel-building” toothpaste is an advertising con and does little more for your teeth than brushing with the least expensive toothpaste or simply a bit of baking soda —which, along with regular flossing, removes food particles and some plaque.

Once enamel is gone it’s gone but while it’s still there it can be strengthened. Fluoride is the primary method of achieving this. Acid in plaque starts to dissolve the enamel crystals and fluoride replaces it with a similar structure.

Interesting. Does the fluoride in toothpaste really make a difference just being on our teeth for a minute at a time twice a day? Often I don’t even brush a full minute if I’m honest. Or, is it the fluoride we ingest that makes the real difference?

Fluoride is ingested through water and other foods but we also apply it topically if we use a fluoride toothpaste. You shouldn’t rinse your mouth after you brush. That will allow the fluoride to remain in contact with your teeth for longer.

It is found naturally in some foods such as tea, fish, vegetables and fruit juices, but its inclusion into toothpaste has been a major public health advance. Fluoride has been the major factor in reducing the incidence of dental decay and has been used in toothpastes for almost 50 years.

It works by promoting a chemical reaction in tooth enamel that draws in replacement minerals including calcium. Fluoride incorporates itself into enamel weakened by acid attack, making the tooth more resistant to future acid attacks. Scientific American.

I wonder if the peroxide in whitening formulas weakens the tooth enamel? I had a super white process done years ago and really regret it. My teeth were sensitive for years. I don’t use whitening toothpaste, but I do use Crest strips to whiten about once every 6–12 months. I only use 3–5 whitening packets when I do it. The box comes with 20+.

If you’re using whitening products that bleach your teeth (as it appears you are), they won’t affect the enamel but if you’re using abrasive products that scour the teeth (such as toothpastes with baking powder), then they will harm your teeth. That site explains why people can experienced increased sensitivity after having whitening procedures.