A cavity is a hole that forms in your tooth because of decay. Cavities develop when mouth bacteria feed on sugars and starches, generating acids that soften and dissolve your tooth enamel. Some of the symptoms of dental cavities include bad breath, facial swelling, bleeding gums, toothache, and tooth sensitivity to cold or hot foods or beverages. If left untreated, they can result in tooth loss. Fortunately, there are different things you can do to prevent the development of dental cavities.
Brushing Your Teeth
You should brush your teeth twice daily using a fluoride toothpaste. Tooth brushing stops plaque accumulation on your teeth. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that coats teeth if you fail to brush them properly, contributing to tooth cavities and gum disease. Be sure to brush before bed and after meals. Brushing before sleeping prevents bacteria from lingering on your teeth overnight.
Help your minor child to brush appropriately until you are confident they can do it correctly by themself.
If you use braces, consult your dentist on the most effective brushing method to prevent decay.
Hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gumline when using a manual toothbrush. Ensure you brush all surfaces, including the exterior, interior, and chewing surfaces. Tilt the toothbrush vertically and brush upward and downward to access your teeth’s rear areas.
When using an electric brush, here are the steps to follow:
- Ensure that the brush part of the toothbrush is firmly fixed to the handle
- Apply a small amount of fluoride toothpaste to the toothbrush
- Place the brushing part in the mouth before activating the toothbrush
- Select the appropriate brushing action and your desired speed
- Apply mild pressure to clean one tooth at a time.
- Proceed to other areas of your mouth and ensure you do not miss any spots. When brushing the inner part of your lower teeth, hold the brush head vertically for a more effective cleaning of the tooth surfaces.
Regardless of the type of your toothbrush, ensure you brush at least two minutes. Always brush the tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.
Flossing Your Teeth
Dental floss is an effective tool for cleaning the tight spaces between your teeth. It removes plaque, which can build up in spots a toothbrush cannot reach. Regular flossing can help prevent tooth decay or cavities.
Proper flossing techniques include the following:
Choosing the Appropriate Floss
Select a floss that caters to your needs and preferences. Flossing options include unwaxed, waxed, dental tape, and floss picks. Waxed floss slips more easily between tight teeth, whereas dental tape is flatter and broader, ideal for bigger gaps.
Flossing Methods
Flossing techniques involve the following:
- Cut about 18 inches of floss and wind the bigger part around your middle finger with the remaining part around the same finger of the other hand.
- Hold the floss firmly between the thumbs and index fingers, sparing about an inch to work with.
- Slowly slide the floss between teeth using a back-and-forth motion. Avoid snapping the floss into your gums.
- Curve your floss to form a C-shape against a single tooth and lightly slide it into the gap between the tooth and the gum.
- Hold the floss tightly against your tooth, then gently rub the tooth’s side, shifting the floss away from your gum with upward and downward motions.
- Repeat this procedure for every tooth, including the rear teeth. Use clean portions of floss as you shift from one tooth to another.
- When flossing with braces, use a floss threader to navigate the floss behind the brace’s wires.
- Please note that you can bleed slightly when you start flossing. However, if the bleeding persists, contact your dentist immediately.
Ensure you floss at least once a day. It is advisable to floss before brushing your teeth because flossing removes plaque and food debris between the teeth, permitting the fluoride in the toothpaste to reach and strengthen all tooth surfaces more effectively when you brush.
Drink Plenty of Fluoridated Water
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in almost every water source. Studies show that drinking fluoridated water reduces tooth cavities by approximately 25% in children and adults. Tap water has fluoride.
When you fail to drink enough water, you become dehydrated, which can cause saliva to thicken (dry mouth), which is detrimental to your teeth. On the other hand, optimum water intake is essential in preventing bacterial acid and tooth cavities since water washes away food particles.
Drinking fluoridated water also fortifies the teeth by restoring calcium and phosphorus levels in your enamel, strengthening teeth against decay. Children should also start drinking fluoridated water at a young age because when fluoride constantly enters their bloodstream as their teeth form, their adult teeth are less likely to develop cavities. If the dentist believes your child requires more fluoride, they can apply a fluoride varnish to tooth surfaces, recommend fluoride mouthwash, and prescribe fluoride tablets.
You should also drink water after drinking a sugary beverage because it rinses acid and sugar from your mouth, lowering the risk of tooth erosion and decay.
Making Healthy Dietary Choices
Here are different foods and drinks that promote oral health and can prevent cavities:
Dairy Products
Dairy products, like cheese, milk, and yogurt, are rich in calcium that fortifies your tooth enamel. Cheese also contains phosphate, which balances acidity levels in your mouth, further preserving the enamel. Yogurt contains protein and calcium that strengthen enamel and probiotics that compete with harmful bacteria, balancing your mouth’s pH.
Whole Grains
Whole grains are rich in iron and vitamin B, which help keep the gums healthy and support your teeth. They also have minerals like magnesium, fluoride, and calcium that strengthen teeth. Finally, these grains are fiber-rich, promoting saliva flow and production.
Crunchy Vegetables and Fruits
Carrots and apples are good for your mouth because their crunchy texture scrubs your teeth as you chew. The natural fibers in them can also stimulate saliva production, which washes away food debris and harmful mouth bacteria.
Leafy Greens
Leafy greens like kale and spinach are rich in essential minerals and vitamins, like folic acid and calcium, that strengthen the tooth enamel. Eating leafy greens creates a protective barrier over the teeth; they act as a natural shield against decay. Their fiber cleans teeth and neutralizes the acids in the mouth, reducing harmful bacteria.
Berries
Berries are rich in antioxidants, which are beneficial for eliminating mouth bacteria that cause tooth decay.
Green and Black Tea
Green and black tea contain polyphenols that suppress or eliminate mouth bacteria that feed on sugars in your mouth and excrete acids that erode tooth enamel. They also reduce your saliva’s acidity level and dental plaque, helping prevent cavities.
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds, like almonds, chia seeds, and walnuts, are rich in nutrients like calcium, protein, and phosphorus. These essential nutrients help strengthen your enamel.
Almonds contain low sugar and high calcium, making them a good snack that promotes oral health.
Chia seeds and walnuts have a high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids.
Sugar-free Gums
Sugar-free candies and gums, especially those sweetened with xylitol, when used in moderation, may prevent cavities. Xylitol is a natural sweetener that combats bacteria that cause cavities. Chewing sugar-free gum also stimulates the production of saliva, which safeguards your enamel.
Chewing sugar-free gum following a meal can also protect your teeth by removing food particles and neutralizing acid levels in your mouth.
Foods and Beverages to Avoid
Food and beverages that can cause cavities include the following:
- Citrus fruits—While oranges, lemons, and limes are rich in healthy vitamins, they also contain abrasive acids that could erode your tooth enamel.
- Ice — Ice has the potential to chip or break your teeth, making them more susceptible to developing cavities.
- Crackers and chips
- Sticky foods — avoid chewing candy and dehydrated fruits because they can stick between your teeth, establishing a constant fuel source for cavity-causing microorganisms.
- Coffee — Coffee contains acids that could harm your tooth enamel
- Alcohol — Alcohol can cause dry mouth and reduced saliva flow, which increases your risk of developing dental cavities.
- Soda — Sodas contain vast amounts of sugar and acids.
- Sports drinks—Similar to soda, energy drinks are high in acids and sugar, which can damage your tooth enamel.
- Avoid snacking a lot — Snacking or sipping excessively provides mouth bacteria with additional fuel to make acids that attack your teeth and erode the enamel.
Regular Dental Check-Ups
Even if you practice good dental hygiene habits at home, like brushing and flossing, you still need routine check-ups from your dentist. Here are the pros of routine appointments with your dentist in relation to tooth cavities:
Personalized Dental Care
During your dental appointment, your dentist will perform tooth cleanings beyond what you could achieve at home, reducing the risk of developing cavities. The teeth cleanings remove tartar and plaque that could have accumulated despite consistent daily flossing and brushing.
During the check-ups, you also receive professional advice on the best dental practices that can help reduce the possibility of cavities.
Early Detection
During dental appointments, your dentist can spot signs of cavities that might not be obvious to the ordinary eye. Your dentist will use specialized diagnostic imaging and tools like X-rays to identify the location of concern. Early detection means saving your tooth from further decay and discomfort and avoiding less invasive and costly treatments.
Dental Sealants and Fluoride Treatments
During your routine appointment, the dentist can recommend fluoride treatments and sealants, which are straightforward, pain-free, and practical techniques to prevent cavities.
Fluoride is a mineral that strengthens your teeth enamel, allowing them to combat cavities better. On the other hand, sealants are small, protective layers applied to your chewing surfaces on the rear teeth where cavities often form.
Personalized Dental Hygiene Advice and Guidance
Regular dental checkups also allow you to receive individualized oral health tips and assistance from your hygienist or dentist. The tips can include proper dieting, hygiene methods that combat cavities, and other measures that, if implemented, can reduce the potential risk of cavities.
Frequent Monitoring of Your Oral Health
Routine dental appointments enable your dentist to monitor your teeth and overall oral health regularly. The proactive approach helps catch potential cavities before they worsen.
Long-term Prevention Habits
Developing a habit of visiting your dentist from a tender age can help you lay a foundation for lifelong good dental health. Minors who develop the habit of making regular dentist appointments over time can keep prioritizing dental check-ups as adults, lowering the likelihood of cavities.
Use Antiseptic and Disinfecting Treatment
Suppose you are at a serious risk of tooth decay. In that case, your dental professional can suggest special antiseptic and disinfecting mouthwash like chlorhexidine to reduce harmful mouth bacteria.
Avoid Smoking
Saliva cleans your mouth by washing away food debris and bacteria. Smoking lowers saliva production, causing a dry mouth, which increases the chances of developing cavities.
If you are a smoker, some of the practical ways to help you quit include the following:
- Use nicotine replacement therapy like nicotine patches, nose sprays, lozenges, and nicotine gums. Be sure to consult your dentist to find what works for you.
- Know what triggers your craving to smoke or use tobacco, and make a plan on how to handle it.
- Replace tobacco with a healthy snack, mint, or gum.
- Engage in physical activities that can help manage cravings and mood as you quit smoking.
Find a Competent Preventive Dentistry Dentist Near Me
While flossing, brushing, eating a balanced diet, and making healthy lifestyle choices are essential, seeing your dentist is equally vital for preventing tooth cavities. The Lakewood Dentist can offer professional cleanings that remove tartar and plaque accumulation that regular flossing and brushing can miss, reducing the likelihood of tooth decay. We can also assess your oral health during the visit and identify potential issues early. We can also provide individualized advice on maintaining optimal oral health at home and preventive treatments like sealants to strengthen teeth. Since preventing cavities protects your oral health and contributes to your well-being, do not wait until you have a cavity; call us at 562-423-1441 and be proactive to protect your teeth.