How to Avoid Tooth Decay

Some people get more tooth decay than others, and fillings are not treating the real cause of the problem. Unless you get rid of the causes of tooth decay, another potentially painful dental procedure will be in your future. When tooth decay is detected early, it can be treated preventively, often without filling the tooth. Here's how to avoid tooth decay.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. The best way to prevent tooth decay is to brush your teeth at least twice a day, preferably after every meal.
2. Flossing once a day helps prevent gum disease by removing food particles and plaque at and below the gum line. You should visit your dentist every 6 months for an oral examination and a professional teeth cleaning procedure.
3. Consider adding a fluoride mouthwash or gel to your daily brushing routine. Your saliva can repair very early decay in teeth with the presence of fluoride in your mouth.
4. Dentist can apply fissure sealant (a liquid plastic that is painted on the teeth) that prevents food and plaque from being trapped in the gaps between the teeth.
5. The risk of tooth decay can be lowered by choosing foods wisely. Foods high in sugar and starch, especially when eaten between meals, increase the risk of cavities. The bacteria in the mouth uses sugar and starch to produce an acid that destroys the enamel on the tooth.
6. Eating a bit of cheddar cheese or any type of cheese at the end of a meal helps protect the teeth. It stimulates the production of cleansing saliva inside the mouth, and the calcium in cheese also hardens tooth enamel.
7. Crisp apples, celery and carrots are nature's little toothbrush alternatives. They not only help to get rid of food particles inside your mouth, they also use their rough, fibrous texture to scrub away on the teeth as you chew to brighten your smile.
8. Drinking green or black tea after eating can help destroy the germs that cause cavities, gum diseases and bad breath. It will also fight tooth plaque and bacteria inside the mouth.
9. Drinking water is also beneficial for rinsing food particles from the mouth. Saliva appears to have a buffering effect on acid production, and acts as a remineralizing agent. Chewing sugarless gum also increases salivation and thus helps to lower the risk of tooth decay.