Cavities can cause pain, tooth loss and other health complications; luckily they’re preventable! One key step you can take to protect your health from cavities is making sure you use fluoridated toothpaste when brushing.
Dieting and drinking plenty of water are key steps in the fight against cavities, and when snacking try to limit yourself to only 1-2 large snacks daily so as to limit saliva production and decrease acid-producing bacteria on your teeth.
Brush Daily
Many people recognize the importance of brushing and flossing their teeth regularly to promote good oral health, including avoiding cavities. By adhering to these simple instructions for maintaining optimal oral health, people can achieve excellent dental hygiene practices that can prevent other problems, including cavities.
Without regular brushing, bacteria build up on our teeth in the form of plaque. When left to accumulate for too long, these organisms feed off sugars and starches found in food we consume to produce acids which attack tooth enamel and break it down over time, eventually leading to painful cavities that result in pain as well as decayed tooth structure.
Brushing daily and using toothpaste containing fluoride can remove harmful bacteria that cause plaque build-up, helping prevent cavities from forming in the first place. If brushing alone proves challenging for you, we also offer dental sealants which can protect the chewing surfaces of back molars while decreasing your risk for cavities – contact us about what options may be available!
Floss Daily
Although our teeth are very resilient, they’re still susceptible to damage from daily sources like sugar, acidity, plaque buildup and bacteria – factors which slowly wear away at tooth enamel leading to painful cavities that require expensive treatments.
Brushing twice daily for at least two minutes each time is key to protecting against cavity-causing bacteria. Fluoride toothpaste should also provide extra defense.
Flossing is another key step to help prevent cavity-causing bacteria and plaque build-up in your mouth. Be sure to floss once daily, especially before bed, since saliva production decreases during restful sleep, leaving teeth susceptible to food debris and bacteria buildup. CariFree Gel 1100 dental floss provides extra benefits with its pH enhanced and remineralizing protection, offering effective defense against cavities in one efficient step.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Though new technologies may someday help repair cavities, the best way to avoid them in the first place is with good oral hygiene practices such as brushing twice daily for at least two minutes each time and using fluoride toothpaste. This should provide protection from cavities.
Your mouth’s bacteria convert sugary foods and beverages to acid, gradually dissolving your teeth’s enamel layer over time and creating cavities – this eroded area is known as a cavity, and if left untreated it could lead to serious tooth decay that requires extensive treatments to repair.
Scheduling regular appointments every six months is an essential step toward preventing cavities. At these visits, we will perform more comprehensive cleaning of your mouth than you can on your own, and can spot early signs of cavities to keep your smile strong and healthy. This will save you from dealing with them later down the line and ensure long-term dental health!
Eat a Healthy Diet
Diet is key for overall health; however, many don’t recognize its benefits to dental wellbeing as well. Eating healthily can reduce your risk of cavities caused by bacteria feeding on sugar and excreting acids into the mouth that attack hard outer layers such as enamel resulting in tiny openings called cavities forming within.
Snacks like candy and pastries contain lots of sugar that lingers on teeth for extended periods. Sticky foods, like dried fruits, can even trap more sugars and bacteria on them for even longer; making it harder for brushing alone to remove this food debris that could accelerate tooth decay.
Alternative strategies could include eating nutritious snacks like cheese and berries that promote saliva production, and drinking fluoridated tap water can remineralize teeth.
Ontario dental clinics recommend regular check-ups and cleanings tо remove built-up plaque and tartar that brushing alone may miss. These preventative measures can help keep your smile healthy and bright.
