Most people dislike, maybe even hate, going to the dentist. If this is sounds like you, you should start taking preventive measures to stop cavities before they can even start.
Before we can prevent cavities, we must define what a cavity is. Cavities are holes, or structural damage, in the teeth.
There are three main types of cavities including coronal, root, and recurrent decay. Coronal cavities are the most common type of cavity.
They occur in both children and adults. Coronal cavities usually are located on chewing surfaces or between the teeth.
Root cavities occur on the root of the tooth when part of the root is exposed. Recurrent decay is decay that forms around existing fillings and crowns.
Many cavities can be prevented from ever happening if we each follow a few simple steps.
The number one thing we can do to prevent cavities is to maintain good oral hygiene. Just doing this one thing will significantly reduce the risk of getting cavities.
Brushing your teeth at least twice a day can help reduce your chance of cavities. Brushing removes bacteria as well as the food debris that bacteria feed on.
A thorough brushing should take at least 2-3 minutes. If you brush for 2-3 minutes you will most likely rid your mouth of germs and lurking bacteria.
Another major part of dental hygiene is flossing. Flossing reaches the part of your mouth that your toothbrush can not reach.
Toothbrushes cannot reach approximately 35 percent of your mouth. Brushing without flossing is like taking a shower and only washing two thirds of your body.
The second biggest preventative factor we should be aware of is the foods that we choose to eat. Foods containing sugars and carbohydrates attract more bacteria than other foods and give them energy to grow, reproduce, and create enamel eating acid.
Be careful when eating foods that tend to stick to teeth like peanut butter, caramel, and honey. These foods are not easily cleared by chewing and swallowing.
Consequently, they provide bacteria with a long lasting food source from which to make acid. After eating these foods, be sure to brush your teeth as soon as possible.
Another thing that can help prevent cavities is the timing of your daily eating habits. This tip may be surprising to many.
This is due to the process of creating a cavity. Acid is produced by bacteria then it is neutralized by saliva and cleared from the mouth.
After the acid is cleared minerals in saliva crystallize on the enamel and begin to repair areas damaged by the acid.
Larger intervals between eating provide more opportunity for this acid to be neutralized and more time for the acid damage to be repaired. Frequent snacks or eating provide a constant acid attack on your teeth and provide less time for tooth repair.
This explains why snacks eaten with a meal are better for teeth than snacks eaten in between meals. Remember that a candy bar eaten with a meal is less likely to contribute to cavity formation than a candy bar eaten as a snack between meals.
This also explains why fewer larger sized meals are better for teeth than more frequent smaller sized meals. Likewise, sipping on sugar containing liquids, like soda or juice, throughout the day is harder on your teeth than drinking these same type of drinks with a meal.
Another way to prevent cavities is to use fluoride. Fluoride strengthens as it incorporates itself into tooth enamel making it more resistant to acid attacks. Most adults receive adequate amounts of fluoride in their toothpastes.
Children often receive adequate amounts in their drinking water. If your water is not fluoridated you may want to consult your pediatrician to see if they would suggest providing additional fluoride supplements for your child.
There are also some fluoride rinses that are similar to mouthwash that can be purchased to increase teeth fluoridation that are sold over-the-counter.
One of the final ways we can prevent cavities and other dental problems is to have regular dental visits in the form of a yearly check-up.
Seeing a dentist will help to identify problems before they can start to become a big issue. This is crucial because dental problems often remain silent until one day they create pain only after significant damage has occurred.
Dentists can easily identify many of these potentially devastating problems before they cause major damage. Additionally, dentists can detect places in your mouth that you miss when brushing.
These areas are prime targets for cavity formation. In areas where cavities are just beginning to form, dentists can use high concentration fluoride treatments to prevent the need for the dental drills and fillings.
When you effectively follow these tips virtually all cavities can be eliminated.
Author Resource:-
Jack R. Landry is a former dental assistant and has authored hundreds of articles relating to oral health and cosmetic dentist in Santa Cruz. He has been a guest dental lecturer for over 15 years.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.massagebyben.com/articles/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites 