This is a topic near and dear to me. Before I started BEAM Minerals I struggled for years with inflamed and receding gums, frequent cavities and bone loss in my teeth. My dentists were puzzled: I brushed twice a day, flossed after every meal and even went in for professional cleanings every 4 months. I followed an impeccable oral hygiene routine but my dental health was still in decline. I was on the verge of needing serious oral surgery—until I discovered plant-based minerals.

What I didn’t realize (and my dentists missed) was that I had several severe mineral deficiencies. It turns out minerals influence almost every aspect of your oral health: the hardness of your enamel, your resistance to tooth decay, how well you maintain healthy mouth bacteria, and even how prone you are to gum disease.

Once I began supplementing with the right minerals my dental health turned around very quickly. Within eight months all my issues were gone, and today I have strong teeth and healthy gums. For me, it all came down to mineral replenishment, which is one of the reasons I wanted to start BEAM MInerals. Most Americans are deficient in at least one mineral [ * ] and the effects are often subtle—but if you correct those imbalances, you may be surprised by the aspects of your health that improve.

Here’s a look at why mineral balance is an essential part of dental hygiene.

You cannot replace enamel once it’s destroyed, which means if you lose it—due to a cavity, for example—your only option is to get the missing enamel filled in at a dentist using an artificial compound that mimics your natural teeth.

However, your body can repair general wear and tear on enamel through a process called remineralization . Remineralization is exactly as it sounds: your saliva carries calcium, phosphorus, fluoride, and magnesium into voids that have formed in the crystalline structure of your enamel, where it deposits them to fill in the voids and return your enamel to a dense, strong state. [ * ]

Research shows that deficiencies in any of these minerals will slow remineralization to a crawl, causing your enamel to degrade and increasing your risk of cavities, root canals, and other irreversible tooth damage. [ * ][ * ]

Getting plenty of minerals, on the other hand, will make the remineralization process more robust, keeping your teeth strong and white for years to come.

Minerals Protect Your Teeth from Bacteria

Minerals also help fight off the bacteria that cause cavities.

Cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth are constantly trying to cover your teeth in a biofilm—a layer of slime that adheres to the surface of the tooth and physically protects the bacteria from damage or removal, allowing them to multiply. [ * ] Once they multiply, bacteria begin producing acids that eat away at the enamel on your teeth, allowing the bacteria to burrow in and infect the tissue underneath.

Biofilms are one reason it’s so important to brush twice a day. The friction of your toothbrush breaks up and removes biofilms, preventing bacteria from building protective strongholds on your teeth.

But brushing isn’t enough. You also want to give your teeth the tools they need to fight back against bacteria.

That’s where minerals come in. Research shows that alkaline minerals—most notably calcium , magnesium , potassium , manganese , and iron —actually neutralize the acids produced by cavity-causing bacteria so they can’t wear down your enamel. [ * ]

But research also shows that when you’re low on these minerals, bacteria have an easier time adhering to your teeth and breaking them down. [ * ]

If you want to protect against cavity-causing bacteria it’s a good idea to increase your mineral intake.

Minerals Support Your Gums, Too

It’s not just your teeth: a 2016 review concluded that mineral status also plays a central role in inflammation and gum disease. [ * ]

The authors noted that a broad spectrum of trace minerals contribute to maintaining periodontal (gum) tissue, and that numerous minerals (most notably selenium ) act as antioxidants, reducing inflammation and protecting gums from oxidative damage caused by bacteria. [ * ]

The same review also noted that an abundance of essential minerals promotes healthy bacterial balance in your mouth, further supporting your gums.

A Simple Way to Replenish Your Mineral Stores

Minerals are an essential part of your dental health—but most of us don’t get enough of them.

The latest national health and nutrition survey from the CDC found that 97% of Americans are deficient in at least one mineral . [ * ]

The most important minerals for supporting your teeth—calcium, magnesium, potassium, and fluoride—are common deficiencies, all of which can have long-lasting effects on your oral hygiene.

This is one of the main reasons I created BEAM Minerals . It contains every essential mineral your body needs, in the right ratios, which makes supplementation easy. All you do is take a one-ounce shot of mineral-rich liquid each morning. It tastes like water and it replenishes all your minerals at once, in 30 seconds a day.

For an even bigger boost, try swishing with a capful of BEAM Minerals for 30 seconds after brushing. Saliva remineralizes your teeth by carrying minerals into the voids in your enamel, [ * ] and surrounding your teeth with mineral-rich liquid is a great way to support your teeth and gums. If you are struggling with unhealthy teeth, you can also try swishing with our Electrolyze™ right before you go to bed at night.

Remineralization made a huge difference in my dental health. You may be surprised by how much it helps you. Give BEAM Minerals a try today and see the difference for yourself.