Tooth Decay Prevention: 5 Daily Dental Care Tips
Tooth decay is the most common oral health problem worldwide. Each year, millions of people from all around the world suffer from expensive dental treatment for cavities. While it can happen to anyone, children are always at a greater risk for cavities because many do not practice correct oral hygiene.
Fortunately, it is also highly avoidable.
Each general dentist has the same objective: to preserve patients’ permanent teeth. Along with providing professional care, the dentist informs individuals about their options. When reviewing tips, some may seem self-evident, while others may surprise you. Avoiding tooth decay is critical for your dental and overall health.
What Is Tooth Decay?
Tooth decay is a state in which the tooth’s surface, or enamel, becomes damaged. This occurs as a result of oral bacteria-producing acids that destroy the enamel.
Cavities or holes in teeth can occur as a result of dental decay. It can result in infection, discomfort, and even tooth loss without treatment.
What Causes Tooth Decay?
Our mouths are filled with bacteria. Certain bacteria are beneficial. However, some can be dangerous, including those contributing to tooth decay. These bacteria interact with food to form what is known as plaque, a soft, sticky film. Plaque bacteria produce acids from the sugar and starch in your food and drink.
Acids begin dissolving the minerals in your enamel. The plaque can make the tartar even harder over time. Apart from causing damage to your teeth, plaque and tartar can irritate your gums and contribute to gum disease.
Fluoride is obtained through toothpaste, tap water, and other means. Together with your saliva, this fluoride assists the enamel in self-repair by replacing minerals. All-day long, your teeth go through this normal process of losing and regaining minerals. However, if you do not take care of your teeth and consume many sugary or starchy foods and beverages, your enamel will continue to lose minerals. As a result, tooth decay occurs.
Where minerals are lost, a white patch may form. This is a warning indication of impending tooth decay. You might be able to halt or reverse the decay at this stage. If you maintain better oral hygiene and avoid sugary/starchy foods and beverages, your enamel can still regenerate..
However, if the tooth decay process continues, additional minerals are lost. Over time, the enamel becomes damaged and lost, resulting in the formation of a cavity. A cavity is a hole in the surface of your tooth. It is irreversible damage that must be repaired with a filling.
Tips to Prevent Tooth Decay
You can assist yourself, and your family avoids dental health problems like cavities and decay; fortunately, these problems are also highly preventable. The following are five simple tips for preventing tooth decay.
Knowing The Causes
The first step toward resolving a problem is to ascertain its cause. Oral health is highly dependent on individual lifestyle and habits. It is critical to understand which specific practices affect the health of your teeth to make appropriate lifestyle modifications.
Are you guilty of bad oral hygiene? Do you consume many carbonated beverages or eat a lot of acidic foods? Are you a teeth grinder? Could it be a matter of genetics?
Once you’ve determined the answer, it’ll be much easier to resolve the issue.
Maintaining Oral Hygiene.
Tooth decay happens due to food fragments and harmful germs that remain stuck between your teeth. However, brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing once a day, and getting your teeth professionally cleaned at least once or twice a year will easily prevent it.Consider washing your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash to help prevent tooth decay. Dental clinic websites like https://www.silverstonefamilydental.com/ usually provide contact information and online appointment booking options. Regular dental check-ups are essential for maintaining oral hygiene, and having easy access to scheduling appointments can encourage you to stay on top of your dental care.
Consume Less Sugar And Starch Intake
Sugary foods are a significant contributor to tooth decay in children and adults. Consume excessively sweet foods and beverages, such as candy and sodas, and you significantly increase your risk of developing cavities.
Sugar reacts with bacteria in your saliva, forming acids that erode the strength of your teeth. By contrast, starch adheres to your teeth and gums, resulting in plaque build-up.
Avoid Snacking Before Bedtime.
Consuming food before bed can be bad for health in general, but particularly for your teeth. Allowing food particles to gather and linger in your mouth increases your risk of developing cavities and tooth decay.
You want to ensure that saliva has a chance to break down the food in your mouth, which is why it’s always a good idea to leave at least a two-hour interval between eating and sleeping.
Visit Your Dentist
Make a visit to a dentist at least twice a year for dental health maintenance. If you happen to live in Western Australia for instance, you can visit a Dentist in Bicton, Perth, and Darlington who can inspect your teeth and gums, perform a complete cleaning to remove plaque build-up, identify problem areas also known as Invisalign, moreover Invisalign treatment also available in Melbourne, visit for Invisalign price in Melbourne.
Final Thoughts
If you begin to feel any pain or discomfort, you should contact a general dentist immediately. Visiting the dental office regularly is an excellent approach to prevent tooth decay.
You could have a cavity filled, or a tooth fractured without realizing it. By maintaining regular dental checkups, you can ensure that your permanent teeth remain healthy and strong.