How to Avoid Cavities Between Teeth

Many of us are lucky and never seem to get cavities, or else when we get a cavity, it is on the surface of the tooth, so it is detected easily and early by a dentist, with minimal filling involved. However, what about those hidden cavities, the ones that you get between the teeth? If you want to try and avoid this type of cavity, then read on.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Yourself and your teeth
• All the supplies from Section 2

How to Start with a Good Dental Checkup

1. Your first step in avoiding cavities between the teeth is to start with a great dental checkup. This means one with a competent dentist who is focused on preventive, proactive dentistry (one who wants to help people avoid cavities). Talk to people in the community to find out who these great dentists are.

2. Before you go to the dentist, you need to know a little about your teeth. Learn the number of each of your teeth, so you can discuss certain problems easier with the dentist. For instance, your upper left wisdom tooth is number 16, and the lower right is 32. Know if you are having any pain or problems in a specific tooth.

3. Make an appointment for a checkup. When you go to your appointment, make sure the dental hygienist cleans your teeth thoroughly. If you notice that the hygienist misses cleaning or flossing a tooth in the back, speak up!

4. Make sure that x-rays are taken of every single tooth. The panoramic x-ray shows your whole mouth, and all of your teeth. Insurance only pays for one every three to five years, but you can request one each year if you will pay for it. The additional expense could be worth it.

5. The 'bitewing' x-rays show a few teeth at a time. Make sure the dentist gets a picture of every tooth in full, especially in the back. Sometimes, the dentist could miss getting the wisdom tooth in the x-ray, or the tooth right beside it. If there is a cavity there, the dentist could miss it. Ask to see the x-rays and where each tooth number is in the x-rays.

6. Have the dentist visually inspect each tooth. The dentist needs to use a mirror to see what is going on with the back teeth. Make sure your dentist checks carefully for cavities in your back teeth.

7. Speak up and tell the dentist of any problems you are having. Make sure of what is going on before you leave the office. Have the dentist show you your x-rays and go over them with you. If you see a shade on a tooth that the dentist doesn't see, ask about it.

How to Determine what Dental Supplies You Need

8. Once you have gotten a dental checkup, it's time to do your part in tooth health to help avoid between teeth cavities. First, you need the appropriate dental supplies, like dental floss, a soft toothbrush or electric toothbrush, fluoride toothpaste, an anticavity rinse,and a lighted dental mirror.

9. Determine the specific types of each supplies you need. For instance, you can buy dental floss for teeth that are close together, or for teeth with more space. You might need both if different teeth have different spacing. An electric flosser can make flossing easier. You can also buy flossers that have a handle to help reach back teeth.

10. 
    Oral B electric toothbrush

    Purchase a good toothbrush, one recommended by your dentist. Make sure it is a soft toothbrush, so it doesn't irritate your gums. Electric toothbrushes are good, especially ones with different tips to help with different areas in your mouth, like back teeth versus front teeth.

11. 
    Listerine Tooth Defense Fluoride Rinse

    Buy an anti-cavity fluoride rinse. Don't just use Listerine. It kills bacteria but doesn't have the added protection of fluoride. Act and Listerine both have good anti-cavity fluoride rinses available.

12. You will need toothpaste. Purchase a type with added fluoride for extra protection. If you really need help, you can get a paste from the dentist with added calcium phosphate to help remineralize teeth to prevent cavities.

13. 
    Waterpik

    Waterpicks help get debris from between teeth that your brushing, flossing and rinsing miss.

How to Use Dental Supplies to Keep Teeth Clean

14. Determine how often you will brush, floss and so on. The suggestion here would be to brush, floss and use the fluoride rinse at least twice a day. You could use it each time you eat or drink anything. The less time the bacteria has on your teeth, the less chance it has to invade and allow a cavity to form.

15. 
    Xlear's Spry Xylitol Gum

    Snacking may help your weight, but it doesn't help your teeth. Eating between meals means more bacteria get into your mouth. If you snack, or even eat a piece of chocolate, brush and floss. If this isn't possible, at least chew gum with xylitol or use the fluoride rinse.

16. Getting between the teeth is the focus here. When you brush the teeth, make sure to get to all the surfaces, front, back, sides, by the gum and the biting surface. Brush your teeth for at least two minutes and don't forget the teeth in the back and all their surfaces.

17. When you floss, you have to get below the gumline. Don't just floss quickly in and out between each tooth, but get below the gum on each side. Slide the floss back and forth a few times to make sure you got all food particles loose.

18. Use the fluoride rinse to get out any remaining food particles. Make sure to use it vigorously for at least 30 seconds.

19. If you are using the dental paste with the calcium phosphate and fluoride, to get it between your teeth is tricky. Try putting some on the dental floss itself before you go in between in each tooth with the floss. This takes extra time, but it is worth it to avoid a cavity.

20. 
    Lighted dental mirror (with dental picks included)

    Use the lighted dental mirror to see in your mouth and your teeth. You can use this to check and see if you missed food between your teeth in the back of your mouth, for instance. It can also help you spot brown or dark spots which could be cavities starting.

Tips & Warnings

• When flossing, make sure to get that last tooth in the back. Although it is surrounded by gum on the back side, floss between the tooth and the gums there. Don't forget--you can get a cavity there too!
• Modify your diet to include tooth-friendly foods, such as green tea that has fluorine, green leafy vegetables, and foods with xylitol like pears and strawberries.
• Do research to learn more about avoiding cavities between the teeth and cavities in general. This will help you understand the cavity process and how to become proactive about it.
• One area to research is Healozone, which actually can help reverse and heal cavities. See Resources below.
• Avoid eating sugary foods and drinking sodas. Any food with starch, such as potatoes, also can lead to break down in your enamel. If you eat these things, brush, floss and rinse immediately afterwards!
• Just because you can't see plaque, doesn't mean it isn't there. You have to get the plaque from between your teeth as well.
• Brush within twenty minutes of eating or drinking sugary drinks, which is when the bacteria start to set in.

Resources

• Healozone--a way to heal cavities
• Xlear Site for ordering Xylitol products such as gum