Dental News

5 Ways to Prevent Tooth Decay

June 25, 2015

Easy ways to protect your teeth from decay.

5 Ways to Prevent Tooth DecayNo one likes to hear that they have a cavity. If you want to keep your teeth healthy and protected from tooth decay, try following these 5 tips.

Brush & Floss Daily

The single most effective way to prevent tooth decay is to practice good oral hygiene at home. By brushing twice a day and flossing once a day, you can remove both the plaque bacteria that cause tooth decay and the food debris that they feed on.

Use the Right Toothpaste

Speaking of brushing and flossing, make sure you are getting the best possible protection from your efforts by using a toothpaste specifically designed to fight tooth decay. Don’t be too distracted by the claims on the label—look at the ingredient list instead. A fluoride toothpaste is always a good choice, because fluoride can both prevent decay from taking root and slow any existing decay that is already going on. If you live in an area with fluoridated water and you don’t like the idea of using a fluoride product, consider a remineralizing toothpaste instead.

Stop Snacking

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not eating too much sugar that causes cavities. The real problem is eating sugar too often. It’s better to eat a whole candy bar in one sitting than to take bites from it all afternoon long. Why? Because the more often you snack, the more often the plaque bacteria in your mouth get fed. So if you want to prevent cavities, stick to eating your dessert right after a meal, and try to brush your teeth or at least rinse your mouth out with water right afterwards to get rid of that sugary residue.

Stimulate Saliva

Saliva is nature’s own weapon against tooth decay. It not only helps to wash away food residue and plaque bacteria, it also carries minerals from your diet to your teeth where they can be absorbed to help keep your tooth enamel strong. One good way to stimulate saliva is to chew sugar-free gum after each meal. If you suffer from drymouth, you need to get treatment for this condition in order to prevent cavities.

Visit the Dentist

Finally, be sure to visit the dentist at least once per year to help keep tooth decay from spreading unchecked in your mouth. Your dentist can recommend special products and techniques to help improve your oral hygiene as well as provide treatment to arrest existing decay.

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