Good oral hygiene practices can prevent tooth decay. Simple things, like seeing your dentist regularly for your routine cleanings and exams and brushing regularly after meals are the most common, but there are a few more strategies that you can employ to keep your teeth and mouth healthy and clean.
Here are a few more important ways to prevent tooth decay:
- Cut the Sugar: Try to avoid consuming drinks and food with a high amount of sugar. Sugar feeds the bad bacteria that causes the acid that decays teeth. Limit the candies, cookies, and soft drinks.
- Drink water from the tap: Most tap water contains fluoride. That fluoride is what will keep your enamel strong, and reverse early demineralization..
- Limit between meal snacking: Snacking can give the bacteria in your mouth even more food to convert into acids.
- Use floss: Flossing between teeth helps clear food particles and plaque from between the teeth. Flossing at least once a day, (preferably after your last button) will help ensure a healthy mouth.
- Get sealants: Sealants are a thin coating of plastic painted to the tops of molars. You use your molars for chewing. The grooves of the teeth can also get food particles trapped in the crevices and a sealant can cover and fill in the grooves, preventing the food from getting stuck in the tooth to cause issues.
Prevention includes taking care of your teeth and getting regular check-ups and exams. Would you like to learn more about dental care? Have questions about practical ways to prevent cavities? Make your appointment today or call 480.771.0287 to schedule a personal consultation with your dentist and dental team at Parkview.
