Good eating habits and dental care are the first steps in preventing tooth decay. You’ve undoubtedly heard that it’s critical to floss every day in addition to brushing your teeth at least twice a day. We may come out as repetitious, but we mean it! Your first lines of protection against cavities are brushing and flossing.
How Does Dental Decay Occur?
When food particles from meals and drinks become stuck on your teeth, tooth rot begins. These food particles provide nourishment for bacteria in your mouth, which convert them to acid. Your teeth eventually get hollow from the acid. We refer to these openings as cavities. We have some preventive dental advice for you to follow before cavities have an opportunity to negatively impact your oral health!
Preventive Dental Care at Home
You have to continuously practice proper oral hygiene routines to avoid tooth decay. This involves flossing and brushing using toothpaste that has been fluoridated. Limiting your consumption of sugar and carbs is also crucial. While it may be difficult to give up processed, sugary meals and drinks, keep in mind that doing so has additional health advantages that will support your motivation.
Chewing sugar-free gum and drinking lots of water can also help clear your mouth of food particles and promote salivary flow. Saliva contains naturally occurring compounds that aid in combating bacteria and the acid damage they cause!
See your dentist frequently.
It’s a good idea to see your dentist for routine checkups and professional cleanings at least twice a year, even if you practice excellent oral care. Even in places where your toothbrush and floss can’t reach, plaque and tartar can still accumulate and harm your teeth.
Keeping up with routine dental cleanings and appointments will put you on the right track to avoiding tooth decay. You should never miss a dentist appointment if you have a genetic predisposition to gum disease or other oral health problems. Some people are unaware that maintaining good oral hygiene habits at an early age might really save costs and avert the need for costly restorative dentistry procedures down the road.
Keeping all of your natural teeth and keeping your smile healthy depend on preventing tooth decay. Call our office right now to make an appointment or to find out more about your oral health.