A cavity refers to an early form of tooth decay. If oral bacteria find a weak spot in your dental structure, you begin to experience deterioration of the tooth’s enamel.
When decay eats a hole into the surface of a tooth, this is a cavity. Dentists can treat a cavity by removing the decayed portion and restoring the tooth’s structure with a dental filling.
However, you should protect your natural smile as much as you can. This means prioritizing oral health care that can prevent cavity formation in the first place. Find three tips from your dentist that will lower your risk of forming cavities when you read on.
Pay Attention to Your Diet
The types of foods and beverages you include in your diet can have a major impact on your dental health. Acidic substances will linger on your teeth, and the acid will erode your teeth. Enamel erosion weakens the teeth, putting them at risk of cavities.
Take note of the foods you consume to ensure you do not have too many acidic items such as citrus fruits and juices. You should also limit sugary items from your diet. Sugar will become acidic and pose this same threat to your dental structure.
Choose sugar-free items at the grocery store and consider substituting sugar for other flavor enhancements when you cook or bake. Talk to your dentist about other ways that your diet can influence your oral health.
Practice Proper Oral Hygiene
Oral hygiene is the routine we complete twice a day to remove plaque and other residues that accrue on our teeth throughout the day. Natural oral bacteria create these films that we must remove. Otherwise, bacteria will produce acid that will eat away at your teeth and cause tooth decay.
Good oral hygiene involves brushing your teeth in the morning and evening. You must also floss every day to get rid of build-up between your teeth that a toothbrush cannot easily access. Stick to a consistent regimen to ensure you clean away residues in a timely fashion and do not allow bacteria to linger and hurt your teeth.
Attend Regular Dental Check-Ups
To properly keep your teeth safe from cavities, you will need to seek routine care from your dentist. Attend dental check-ups at least twice per year in order to maximize oral hygiene and receive other preventive dental attention.
Your dentist completes a thorough, professional-grade cleaning of your teeth during this appointment. This way, your teeth will not suffer damage from plaque or tartar that your at-home oral hygiene efforts cannot remove.
Your dentist will also offer other ways to strengthen your teeth to prevent cavities. For instance, you might benefit from fluoride treatment. The dentist can apply concentrated fluoride solutions to your teeth. The mineral will absorb into your teeth to fortify them and reduce your chance of forming cavities.
You can find fluoride in other dental products, such as toothpaste and mouthwash. Your dentist can inform you about other ways to fight cavities in your unique smile when you book an appointment today.