Dr. Hall –
I saw your note to the effect that weightlifting will not affect tooth decay. But let me ask the question a different way. I have been lifting weights (squats) for a few months now and am beginning to get up to moderately sizeable weights. I am doing this to preserve/increase bone mass to avoid osteo problems ten or twenty years from now.
If I am building extra bone as a result of this exercise, the raw materials must come from somewhere. Obviously, preferably diet. But is it possible that it may take some calcium from the teeth to build the extra bone mass?
I have just found I have problems with two teeth after not having any material problems for some years. It just seems like a curious coincidence, that it has occurred a few months after starting some fairly serious weights exercises.
– Rodney in Ontario
Rodney,
Your body can’t extract calcium or anything else from your teeth. Once they’re formed, they’re done. Your body can and does take calcium from bones when they fall into disuse, but not teeth.
It’s conceivable that, if your diet isn’t providing enough calcium to build up these bones that your saliva could be deficient in calcium, and if that’s the case, you’re weakening one of your defenses against tooth decay. There is a constant repair process that goes on where your teeth have little acid attacks every day and your saliva provides the repair every day to rebuild the site of the attack.
– Dr. Hall
Related pages in the www.mynewsmile.com web site:
Bone loss from gum disease
What to look for in dental floss and flossing
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About David A. Hall
Dr. David A. Hall was one of the first 40 accredited cosmetic dentists in the world. He practiced cosmetic dentistry in Iowa, and in 1990 earned his accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is now president of Infinity Dental Web, a company in Mesa, Arizona that does advanced internet marketing for dentists.
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