If we talk about dental health, tooth decay or cavity is probably the biggest problem in society. Tooth decay has been rampant ranging from childhood to adulthood and the reason for this is that a lot of people are not well informed about how to take good care of their overall oral health.
The cavity is not just something that comes and goes. When not treated, it gets larger and can even affect other teeth, one after the other. It also has a long-term effect on your gums that leads to serious infection and tooth loss.
How Can You Get Cavity?
If you're a person who loves to eat and drink all the time but not brushing your teeth afterward, you are likely to get cavities. The acid that you get from eating and drinking certain products that contain sugar will cling to your teeth and damage your enamel. The first stage of tooth decay is a white spot, an indication that a cavity is slowly forming on your teeth.
How to Prevent Tooth Decay Effectively?
Whether you're reading this article because you have tooth decay or just want to know the preventive ways you can do it at home, read the important information below!
1. Brush Your Teeth with Fluoride
Brushing will always be your #1 tooth decay treatment and prevention. If you practice cleaning your teeth right after eating or drinking something, there is no way that a cavity will form. Moreover, you need to pick the right toothpaste that will really help you fight off tooth decay. Stick with toothpaste with fluoride ingredients because they have been developed and extensive testing has demonstrated that they are effective according to research done by PubMed.
2. Use Fluoride Mouth Rinse
Don't forget to use a mouth rinse to fight cavities. But instead of choosing the ones with mere whitening ingredients, focus on fluoride with antibacterial ingredients. These ingredients will be helpful to kill bacteria that produce plaque on your teeth. Rinse your mouth daily or even after you brush your teeth.
3. Use Flouride Water
The reason why you should use fluoride water is that it is the remineralization process where you have to restore minerals on your teeth for tooth decay treatment. Some people would often wonder why a lot of people from the US have healthier teeth than other countries because most of the community water supply offered in the US is fluoridated.
4. Use Water Flosser
One of the most effective ways for tooth decay treatment is regular flossing. However, flossing with the use of dental floss can be time-consuming and hard especially when you have to do it every time to make sure there are no food residues stuck in between your teeth that brushing alone can't remove.
Most dentists would recommend water flossing over string floss. The reason for this is that it is not difficult to use, and no pressure is added that may damage your gums, unlike string floss. With a water flosser, all you have to do is to turn on the water flosser and let the water spray directly into your teeth and gums. It was even proven that a water flosser and manual toothbrush are significantly more effective than a manual brush and string floss in removing plaque from tooth surfaces.
Steps in Using Water Flosser- Fill the reservoir with warm water before placing it on the base.
- Water flossers come with different tips so choose the one that you favored the most.
- Click the tip on the handle.
- Turn on the water flosser and set the control dial too high to let the water flow. (The next time you will use it, you can set the control dial to any type of pressure you want.)
- In a sink, you have to lean over so that the water won’t stream down to your clothes.
- Place the tip at the gumline and let the water flow to clean each tooth.
- Move it from one gum to another.
- Once you have finished flossing your teeth, turn the water flosser off and remove the tip.
5. Dental Sealants
Dental sealants are vital to protect all your teeth from tooth decay. It is basically a plastic coating for your teeth so the bacteria won't have direct contact with your tooth enamel. It's pricey but it's definitely worth it. You can contact your dentist about this to discuss how you want it to be done. You can learn more about dental sealants here.
6. Drink More Water
If you want to prevent cavities, make sure that you drink enough water. A dry mouth can lead to tooth decay because there is not enough saliva that washes away the acid inside the mouth that causes tooth decay. There are a lot of ways to avoid dry mouth but the most effective way of them all is to hydrate yourself all the time by drinking plenty of water.
7. Take Flouride Tablets
This type of tooth decay treatment needs a prescription from your dentist. They can be taken as pills or chewing gums to prevent tooth decay. Most people don't use this treatment because they prefer the use of toothpaste, mouthwash, and water to get the fluoride that their teeth need. But if this is way more convenient for you, you can just ask your dentist for a prescription and you're good to go.
Conclusion
You need to cut back your #1 enemy in fighting tooth decay and this includes chocolate and other sugary food and drinks that will feed the bad bacteria in your mouth. This is something that you should not forget because even recent studies have shown that people who love to eat sugary food have a higher risk of tooth decay.
Other than that, if you'll just follow the treatment presented above, you will be able to live a life free of cavities. If you want to learn more about how to achieve a healthy mouth, you can learn it here.
Disclaimer:
The content in this article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider before making any changes to your health regimen. The author and publisher do not take responsibility for any consequences resulting from the information provided in this article.