Maintaining good oral and dental hygiene can help you avoid cavities and tooth decay. There are many ways that you can prevent cavities. Below are nine of the best ways of preventing cavities to keep your teeth healthy and beautiful.
1. Brush With Fluoride Toothpaste
Fluoride toothpaste is an effective way to prevent tooth decay. Making fluoride a regular part of your dental care regimen can help you maintain strong and healthy teeth.
Brush at least twice per day and ideally after every meal. This may mean keeping a toothbrush in your desk at work, or in your purse or car. Not all toothpaste contains fluoride, so check the toothpaste before buying it to ensure that it’s the kind of toothpaste you want.
If you’re not sure which toothpastes are best, get a recommendation from your dentist. While you’re at it, ask your dentist to show you how to brush your teeth properly! Your dentist will show you how to brush the hard-to-reach places, and will give you information about how you can address the most problematic spaces in your mouth. Floss at least once daily to get in between your teeth.
2. Rinse Your Mouth
Mouth rinses can also contain fluoride. As with the toothpaste, fluoride-containing mouthwash can also protect your teeth from cavities. Check the mouthwash labels to ensure that the mouthwash you’ve selected contains fluoride – not all of them do.
3. Visit The Dentist Regularly
Get professional teeth cleaning and oral exams two times per year. Your dentist can spot problems early, thus preventing your teeth from developing cavities. If you do develop a cavity, your dentist can catch it in the early stages before it becomes a bigger problem.
4. Get Dental Sealants
Dental sealants form a protective layer on your teeth that can prevent your teeth from developing tooth decay. The CDC recommends dental sealants for all school-age children.
Dental sealants can be used for adults or children. They can last for several years and are easy to apply. Sealants require no special procedures or pain medications to install. Talk to your dentist about sealants to learn more.
5. Drink Tap Water
To protect your teeth from cavities, drink more tap water at home. Most public water supplies have added fluoride, which helps reduce tooth decay. Keep a pitcher of cold water in your fridge for pouring at meal times. Bottled water without fluoride doesn’t offer these benefits.
6. Avoid frequent snacks and sips
Whenever you eat or drink, your mouth creates bacteria. Bacteria creates acid that can destroy tooth enamel. The more you snack throughout the day, and the more you sip sweet drinks, the more vulnerable your teeth are to tooth decay.
If you can limit your snacks and brush your teeth after every meal, you can avoid these problems. If you must eat snacks, avoid sweet snacks. Eating a good crunchy carrot is a great way to stop your stomach from rumbling.
7. Eat Tooth-Healthy Foods
Some foods are especially bad for your teeth. Avoid foods that get stuck in your teeth for long periods of time. Caramel and hard candies are both examples of foods that don’t come out of your teeth easily.
Better foods to eat are fruit and vegetables that are naturally crunchy (not sticky). Celery, carrots and apples provide some cleaning action when you eat them.
8. Fluoride Treatments
If you’re not getting enough fluoride in your diet or through your toothpaste and mouthwash, your dentist may recommend a fluoride treatment. Fluoride treatments can be administered in your normal dental checkup.
9. Antibacterial Treatments
Antibacterial treatments are another way to get rid of the bacteria in your mouth. Your dentist may recommend these treatments if you’re especially vulnerable to tooth decay.
Best Ways of Preventing Cavities in Raleigh
Need cavity treatment? Contact Triangle Dentistry to fix your cavities, and prevent future cavities. Schedule an appointment today.
Triangle Dentistry, located in Raleigh, NC, provides a state-of-the-art facility that offers exceptional general dental and specialty services guided by empathy of a patient’s needs and desires. Services range from dental crowns to veneers and whitening procedures. For further information, questions, or to schedule an appointment, contact the office at (919) 847-6000