Top 10 Tips to Prevent Cavities
Dealing with cavities can be a pain and negatively impact someone's lifestyle. Cavities result from tooth decay, leading to serious dental issues like abscesses, gum disease and the total loss of a tooth. As a general rule, earlier cavity detection makes the treatment easier and cheaper. Here are ways to help you keep your teeth healthy.
10 simple things you can do to keep your teeth free of cavities
1. Brush twice daily
Brushing only take a few minutes of the day, but it is one of the most effective ways to keep the teeth and gums healthy. Dentists typically recommend using a toothbrush with soft bristles to minimize the damage to the enamel. People also need to make sure one of the times they brush is right before bed since the teeth are more vulnerable to decay while asleep.
2. Use a toothpaste that contains fluoride
Fluoride helps to strengthen and re-mineralize the enamel – which serves as a protective barrier for your teeth. Make sure to brush daily with a toothpaste that contains at least 1000ppm of fluoride. If someone is more prone to cavities than the average person, find something with a higher concentration.
3. Floss daily
Flossing serves the same purpose as brushing: removing food particles and plaque from the teeth before tooth decay begins. Make sure to floss at least once every day.
4. Use an antibacterial mouthwash
A quality mouthwash will help clean the places in the mouth a toothbrush or dental floss cannot reach. It will also lower the bacteria count in a person's mouth. The fewer bacteria in the mouth, the fewer acids.
5. Consider dental sealants
For those prone to tooth decay, a dental sealant can offer extra protection. Dental sealants are plastic coatings that go on the chewing surfaces of the teeth in the back of a person's mouth to prevent tooth decay. Dental sealants can be effective for up to 10 years, making them a great investment.
6. Drink lots of water
Drinking lots of water are good for oral and overall health. Water washes away acids and food particles in the mouth, while also being a good source of fluoride since public water supply systems tend to be fluoridated nowadays.
7. Enjoy sugar-free gum
The American Dental Association states that chewing sugarless gum increases saliva production. Saliva is alkaline in nature, so it helps to neutralize any acids in the mouth. It also washes food particles and other debris away.
8. Eat foods that are good for your teeth
The teeth need essential elements like fluoride and calcium to remain healthy so consume foods that are rich in these. Green leafy vegetables and dairy products are great sources of calcium.
9. Avoid sugar
Sugar is bad for teeth and overall health. It is highly acidic and wreaks havoc on the teeth.
10. Visit a dentist twice a year
Visiting a dentist twice a year allows you to deal with any developing cavities before major damage is done to your teeth.
Want more tips on preventing cavities? Contact one of our dentists today.
Request an appointment in our Peabody dentist office here: https://www.northside-dentalcare.com.
Recent Posts
Practicing good oral hygiene basics is the best line of defense against cavities, abscesses and other problems that can plague a person’s mouth. A visit to the dentist can show someone where changes need to be made and help direct improvements in cleaning habits. The following information can more fully explain what needs to happen…
Mouthwash is a controversial topic in the dental field, but a dentist in Peabody recommends using a mouthwash to maintain good oral health. It should not be used to replace brushing and flossing, but rather as an additional means of protecting your mouth against disease and other problems.There are many people who believe mouthwash is…
Learning what it takes to have good oral hygiene is necessary if you want to have good overall health. It does not take a lot of time for you to use the basics of oral hygiene, which helps to ensure that your teeth are clean. When your teeth are clean you are much less likely…
Consuming dairy products like yogurt, cheese, and milk is good for the health of your teeth. These foods play an important role when it comes to dental health. Dairy products contain protective nutrients like phosphorus, calcium, casein – which is a type of protein. These nutrients also have some decay-fighting properties.When combining casein with phosphorus…