Steps That You Can Taketo Prevent Oral Cavities

Steps That You Can Taketo Prevent Oral Cavities

Oral cavities are painful and expensive to fix, but by taking good care of your teeth, using bacteria-fighters like fluoride and visiting your dentist regularly, you can significantly lower your risk of developing cavities.

Beware of Carbs

Cavities are actually caused by acid produced in your mouth by bacteria residing on food particles.

Foods such as chips, bread, pasta or crackers can be as harmful to the teeth as candy.

Starches made from white flour are simple carbohydrates and can linger in your mouth, then break down into simple sugars.

As the acid eats into your tooth, it creates a hole where bacteria can live safe from the protective efforts of toothbrush and floss, resulting in a bigger and bigger cavity.

However, since it’s really the length of time the carb is in contact with your teeth that causes the most damage, a carb-laden lunch is not nearly as damaging as sipping sugary drinks or sucking on hard candy all day.

Keep carb exposure short and brush immediately afterward if possible.

Brush

Keeping teeth clean and free of cavity-causing acid is the most important step toward remaining cavity-free.

Though it may seem obvious to brush your teeth, many people don’t do so frequently enough.

Family dentists recommend that you brush for at least two minutes twice a day and after eating or drinking anything sweet.

Brushing gets rid of food particles, cavity-causing bacteria, and the plaque and acid that can damage your tooth enamel.

Brush your tongue too, as bacteria liveson its surface.

Floss

Though many folks skip flossing as too much trouble, it’s actually one of the most important steps in preventing cavities.

Floss gets in all those hard-to-reach crevices between your teeth that a toothbrush just can’t reach; in fact you’ll reach around 40% more of your teeth’s surface by using floss.

Use Fluoride

Most people don’t think of using fluoride at home, but it actually helps your teeth get stronger and protects from cavities. It is often added to local tap water.

If fluoride is not in your water, rinsing with a fluoride mouthwash or using toothpaste with fluoride in it helps rid your mouth of the sugars and bacteria that can get into teeth and gums, causing decay.

Eat Right

Just as you should avoid carbs, you should also concentrate on eating a balanced diet rich in raw vegetables and sugar-free foods.

Chewing certain sugarless gums can also help prevent tooth decay by increasing the amount of saliva in the mouth, which helps wash away harmful bacteria.

Go to the Dentist Regularly

Visit your family dentist on a regular basis for checkups.

Not only will these visits allow your dentist to check on how you’re taking care of your teeth, but you will also have your teeth deep-cleaned, getting rid of harmful bacteria and buildup that may accumulate even with good regular care.

Also, x-rays taken by a dentist can find areas of decay while they are still small.

Get Sealants

Cosmetic dentists sometimes advise application of dental sealants to the teeth, a protective coating that is put on the biting surfaces of the back teeth to shield against cavity-causing bacteria and plaque.

Although sealants are most often placed on children’s teeth, they can also be used on adults.

If you are experiencing dental problems, it's time to call Shumway Dental Care.

One of their Chandler dentists, Dr. Andy or Dr. Joel Shumway, will ask you questions, examine your teeth and gums, and determine exactly what needs to be done to get you back to normal.

Call today for an appointment.

Visit

www.mychandlerdentists.com

Shumway Dental Care3150 S Gilbert Rd Suite 1

Chandler, AZ 85286(480) 420-7551