You’re in good company if you’ve ever had a cavity filled in your teeth. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identify tooth decay, often a dental cavity, as one of the top unmet health care needs (CDC). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 90% of adults and 57% of 12- to 19-year-olds have had at least one cavity. The best ways to protect your teeth from decay are revealed in this article.
Eleven Ways to Keep Your Teeth Healthy
Get your Fill of Fluoridated Water
Water treated with fluoride can help you avoid cavities and maintain healthy teeth. The CDC lists water fluoridation as one of the twentieth century’s top 10 public health successes; therefore, most municipalities have implemented the practice. Teeth can benefit from fluoride’s ability to remineralize and even reverse early tooth decay. Saliva wipes away bacterial dental plaque and neutralizes dangerous acids; thus, it’s helpful to drink tap water to encourage saliva production.
Try to Limit Your Munching
Snacking is a bad habit that can lead to dental problems. Snacking increases the likelihood of microorganisms wreaking havoc on the sugars and foods eaten. The acids produced by the bacteria, in turn, erode the tooth enamel. Limit your snacking to items that are good for your teeth, such as cheese, almonds, and crisp vegetables.
Maintain Consistent Visits With Your Dentist
Tooth decay can be prevented or alleviated if detected and treated early. If left untreated, tooth decay can spread, requiring extensive dental work such as fillings, veneers, root canals, crowns, or even extractions. Detecting and treating tooth decay requires routine dental examinations and cleanings. Your dentist will give you the greatest advice for keeping your teeth and gums healthy.
Consume Wholesome Fare
A balanced diet is essential for good oral health. Plaque, a bacterial film that forms on teeth and feeds off sugars and starches, is a major contributor to tooth decay. Avoid consuming as much sugar and acidic drinks as possible. If you want to protect your teeth against cavities, eating a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals is important.
Have Fluoride Treatments Thought About
The mineral fluoride has long been recognized for preventing tooth decay and fortifying tooth enamel. In-office fluoride treatments, including tooth fluoride varnish, may be recommended by your dentist. Fluoride is not just included in toothpaste but also in many other oral hygiene products that you may buy without a prescription.
Healthy, Well-Rounded, and Filling Fare
The health of your teeth can be helped by eating well-balanced meals. Cheese, milk, almonds, fresh produce, meat, fish, and eggs are all items that fall within this category.
Sealants For Teeth
Sealants are a type of dental coating often applied by brushing them over the biting surfaces of back teeth to protect them against decay. Consult with your dentist to determine if dental sealants are right for you.
Cut Back on the Sodas and Fruit Juices
Avoid drinking sugary or acidic drinks to protect your teeth from decay. Drinks like sodas, energy drinks, and fruit juices heavy in sugar and acid can erode the protective minerals from your teeth, making them more susceptible to decay. If you must indulge in a sugary beverage, drinking using a straw might lessen the impact on your teeth.
Stop Smoking
Both your general health and your teeth’s health are negatively affected by smoking. Those who smoke are more likely to experience dental problems like cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer. Your dental team is a great resource for information and encouragement to help you kick the habit.
Daily Flossing
A proper dental hygiene practice always includes flossing. Regular tooth brushing cannot remove bacterial dental plaque and food debris from between your teeth; thus, flossing at least once a day is essential.
Gum Without Sugar
Chewing sugar-free gum has been shown to reduce cavities because it stimulates the production of protective saliva. The remineralization of dental enamel is aided by the minerals found in saliva, such as fluoride, calcium, and phosphate. Food and drink acids can also be neutralized by saliva.
The Roots of Tooth Decay
As plaque builds up on teeth, tooth decay is a typical result. As a result, the oral bacteria within the sticky plaque begin to develop damaging acids as they feast on the food waste left on the teeth. The decay process begins as these acids bore holes in the tooth enamel. With enough time, decay can spread through the enamel and into the dentin and pulp of the tooth. Sensitivity and discomfort are common results.
Explain the Signs and Possible Causes
When it comes to tooth decay, the symptoms might range from mild to severe. There may be few noticeable indications of tooth decay in its early stages, but this can change with time. Tooth sensitivity to hot and cold, obvious holes in the enamel, staining (brown, black, or white discoloration), and discomfort when chewing are only a few common symptoms and indicators.
Cavity Forms
There are typically three different kinds of cavities. A cavity on the chewing surface of the front or back teeth is called a smooth surface cavity. This cavity forms slowly over time and is usually quite simple to fix. Second, teeth might get cavities on the root surface. Since the roots of teeth are not as durable as the enamel on the chewing surfaces, cavities there tend to worsen rapidly if left untreated. Finally, cavities on the biting surfaces of teeth are called pits and fissures. If these cavities are detected in time, they can be treated without removing much of the tooth enamel.
Maintenance Exams for Your Teeth
Dental checkups should be scheduled regularly so that any dental issues, such as cavities, may be detected and treated before they develop. A dental abscess infection behind the gums can spread to other body regions, making untreated cavities potentially fatal, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your dentist can detect and treat oral illnesses, allowing you to keep your pearly whites for life.
Conclusion
Avoiding tooth decay is as easy as taking a few preventative measures. Adopt a healthy lifestyle by drinking fluoridated water, eating well, regular flossing and brushing, and chewing sugar-free gum. Smoking, constant eating, and consuming lots of sugary or acidic foods and drinks are all bad for your teeth and should be avoided. Always follow your dentist’s advice and get those checkups and any required treatment done regularly. They could suggest fluoride treatments, dental sealants, or other preventative procedures to keep cavities at bay.
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