Some cavities hurt a lot and need to be fixed right away, but others can go unseen for a long time until they become very dangerous to your tooth’s health. If you know how cavities form and what factors can cause them, you can make small changes to your lifestyle that can have big effects on your dental health. Here are some important things to remember on your way to better teeth and gums.
Most Cavities Are Caused by Plaque
Plaque is a sticky, white or clear substance that forms when the foods and drinks you eat and drink are broken down by bacteria in your mouth. The resulting mixture is acidic enough to wear down tooth enamel over time, which generally leads to a small hole in the tooth called a cavity. Plaque can cause cavities, but removing it well can make this less likely.
What You Can Do to Prevent Cavities
If you’re worried about getting cavities or tooth rot for yourself, your kids, or anyone else in your family, you’ll be glad to know that there are a few easy steps you can take to lower your risk. Some of the best ways to fight cavities are mentioned below. You can also get more information from your dentist.
Brushing and Flossing
If you have small kids, brushing your teeth as a family can help them learn how to care for their teeth. In any case, you should brush your teeth at least twice a day for about two minutes each time. Dentists like it best if you brush after every meal, snack, and sweet drink you can.
It’s also important to floss at least once a day to get food and bacteria out from between teeth. Use a new piece of floss each time you run it between your teeth. If flossing hurts, you might try waxed floss or talk to your doctor about other ways to floss that might work better for you. There are flossing tools on the market that use compressed water or flossing picks and may make flossing more comfortable.
Applying Fluoride to Teeth
There are four simple ways to protect your teeth from tooth decay by fluoridating them:
- If you drink or rinse with fluoridated tap water, it will help improve your tooth enamel, which will make it better able to fight plaque.
- Fluoride mouthwash is a great choice in places where the water is not treated. Use this mouthwash twice a day after you brush your teeth to get the best benefits.
- Your dentist can also apply fluoride to your teeth in a skilled way to make the enamel stronger. Both kids and adults can use these apps, which last between three months and a year.
- Most of the time, fluoride is used as an oral solution in the form of fluoride toothpaste. Getting toothpaste with fluoride is important for you and everyone in your family.
Sealing Off Gaps
You might also ask your doctor if dental sealants are a good idea for you. Dental sealants are used to close off spaces, grooves, and other places where food can get stuck. Plaque and tooth decay can cause damage to your teeth. Dental sealants can help avoid this damage by getting rid of the places where plaque can grow and multiply.
Upgrading Your Diet
Sugary and starchy foods and drinks are some of the bacteria in your mouth’s best foods. They are also a main source of plaque. If you stop eating sweet and sugary foods or eat a lot less of them, the bacteria in your mouth will have less food to eat and less plaque will build up on your teeth.
The health of your teeth and gums also depends on foods that are high in calcium and vitamins:
- Milk, cheese, and other dairy items are full of calcium and make a great addition to your diet. If you can’t digest lactose, you might still be able to eat hard cheeses like Parmesan or Swiss. People who can’t handle lactose can also choose lactose-free milk with added calcium and vitamin D.
- Fresh fruits and veggies are full of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that your bones and teeth need to grow and stay healthy. Adding these fresh foods to your daily diet is a great way for you and your family to improve your tooth health.
- Plaque and germs will be flushed out of your mouth when you drink a lot of water. This will help keep your mouth healthy. Staying wet is also a good idea if you want to keep your body in good shape.
Visiting Your Dentist
By going to an affordable dentist on a regular basis, you can get specific advice on how to avoid cavities and improve the health of your teeth and gums. Your dentist can also look for early signs of gum disease and tooth loss so that these problems can be fixed quickly and well.
Ways to Fix Cavities
Most of the time, fillings are used to treat holes that are small to medium in size. Fillings can be made of valuable metals like silver or gold, composite materials that look like ivory, or silver amalgam. They can usually be put in during a single visit to your dentist’s office.
For teeth with bigger holes, a crown may be needed. This can help protect tooth enamel that may be weak or damaged after decayed parts have been taken out. They may also be needed if you need a root canal to get rid of damaged or infected tissue. Most of the time, root canals get rid of all the tissue and nerve ends inside the roots of the tooth. Crowns can give teeth that have had root canal treatments the support they need.
Your dentist can tell you more about the best ways to treat cavities and keep them from happening. This can help you feel better about how your teeth look and how healthy they are.
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