Cavity Prevention Advice for Everyone

Do you sometimes feel a little lazy and decide to skip out on routinely caring for your dental health? While you may not feel like it’s a big deal, regularly skipping essential dental hygiene habits can have serious repercussions on your oral and overall physical wellness. Cavities and tooth decay can make it more likely that you develop serious illnesses and chronic health conditions. That makes dental health care an essential element of living a healthy lifestyle. Continue reading to learn more about what causes tooth decay and what you can do to effectively prevent cavities.

Whenever we eat, food particles are left behind inside of the mouth. These particles combine with the bacteria that lives inside of our mouths, forming a type of acid that attacks the enamel of the teeth. This acid turns into plaque, which leads to tooth decay. If left untreated, acid and plaque will wear down the tooth’s enamel, forming cavities. Cavities are holes that develop in a tooth. Family dentists can effectively treat cavities.

Fillings are used to treat smaller cavities. Crowns tend to be utilized in instances where a cavity is larger. Root canals are prescribed in cases where decay has reached the tooth’s pulp and caused infection.

Ways to Prevent Cavities

Not brushing your teeth every now and then doesn’t seem like it would be a big deal – but it is. Routinely skipping habits, such as brushing your teeth two times a day, increases your risk of developing diseases. Tooth decay, cavities and gum disease can even lead to the loss of your teeth. You can prevent these issues from happening by following basic dental hygiene habits at home and scheduling routine appointments with your dentist in Palm Coast. The below cavity prevention tips are a great way to start establishing habits that will keep your teeth, mouth and gums as healthy as possible.

1. You should brush your teeth twice daily for a period of two minutes at a time. In addition to that that, you should be using a toothpaste that contains fluoride. If you can, brush your teeth after you eat meals and snacks. If you can’t do that, be sure to rinse out your mouth with water after every meal.
2. To give yourself additional protection against decay, use a fluoride mouthwash twice a day. This should be done immediately after brushing your teeth.
3. Schedule visits with your dentist for professional cleanings and examinations every six months. If you have complicated dental issues, your dentist may recommend that you come in more frequently.
4. Have your dentist apply dental sealants over your teeth. These sealants block off the grooves and nooks and crannies present in the teeth that trap food particles and lead to tooth decay. Sealants are an excellent way to prevent decay and cavities. They tend to last for a period of ten years.
5. Drink tap water. Most towns and cities add fluoride to the water supply. Drinking tap water can increase your protection against tooth decay. It also causes more saliva to be produced, which in turn rinses more bacteria away. If you don’t currently drink tap water, try adding some to your bottled water.
6. Eat a diet that is healthy for your teeth. Tooth-healthy diets consists of plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. It also consists of cheese and sugar-free beverages. In addition to these types of foods and drinks, you can also chew sugar-free gum.
7. Speak with your dentist to learn more techniques to prevent decay and cavities. Your dentist can make specific recommendations that will assist you in keeping your teeth, mouth and gums happy and healthy for years to come.

Treatment for Cavities

If you currently have a cavity, there are plenty of treatment options available to address your dental health care needs. Your dentist in Palm Coast will be able to treat your cavity with the below options.

Fillings

When cavities are caught in their earliest stages, they can be treated via the use of fillings. This simple procedure consists of your dentist removing the damaged area of the tooth and replacing it with a filling.

Crowns

Crowns (or caps) are placed over a tooth that has a large cavity. These are used in cases where a cavity is too large to be successfully filled. Crowns bring the tooth back to its natural shape and size.

Root Canal

Sometimes, decay enters the pulpy area of the tooth and causes infection. When this happens, your dentist will need to perform a root canal. This procedure consists of your dentist removing the pulp from the tooth. He or she will also take out the nerve of the tooth before sealing off the tooth’s roots.

In addition to the above treatments, there are new technological advancements being made every day that can help dentists detect tooth decay before it becomes a serious problem. One new advancement is a fluorescent light that shows a dentist where tooth decay is forming. This technology allows dentists to apply sealants or supplements to prevent the decay from developing into a cavity. Another type of technology being researched is a tooth filling that releases fluoride. This can help prevent decay from spreading to neighboring teeth.

While these types of innovative treatments are exciting to hear about, the best thing you can do to prevent dental health issues is to establish excellent oral hygiene habits. Brushing the teeth twice daily, flossing once a day, seeing your dentist routinely and eating tooth-healthy foods will go a long way towards preventing cavities. You should also avoid consuming foods and beverages that are full of sugars and carbs, as these can increase the amount of acid in your mouth. Following these cavity prevention tips will keep your mouth healthy for a lifetime.