How to Avoid Cavities with Cleaning, Proper Diet and Regular Dental Appointments
If you are looking for some tips and advice about how to avoid cavities, look no further: here are our top suggestions for healthy, cavity-free teeth.
What Are, in Fact, Cavities?
We all have millions of bacteria naturally and harmlessly occurring in our mouths. Whenever we eat and drink something that contains high amounts of sugar, the bacteria in our mouths start proliferating and they combine with saliva and the food residues left in the mouth to form acids. The acids produced by the bacteria attack the enamel of the tooth, decomposing its surface and causing small holes that become larger over time and become visible cavities.
Preventing Cavities with Diet and Dental Cleaning
The best way to avoid cavities is a combination of a proper diet and a proper dental cleaning routine. As cavities are primarily caused by sugar, a diet that is rich in sweets and sugary beverages leads to more cavities, while a diet that consists mostly of proteins, healthy fats, whole-grain foods and unsweetened beverages helps prevent the appearance of cavities.
A proper, meticulous dental cleaning regimen, as well as semi annual visits to your Littleton dental professionals, is also essential for cavity protection. You should brush your teeth at least twice a day, once in the morning, before breakfast and once in the evening, after dinner and you should also floss your teeth once a day, preferably in the evening. To aid your cleaning efforts and to make the process more efficient, finish each cleaning session with a thorough rinse using an anti-bacterial mouthwash.
Choosing Your Dental Cleaning Products
The brush, the toothpaste and the mouthwash that you use also play an essential role in cavity protection. Whether you use a manual or an electric brush, make sure the head has medium bristles, not too soft, but not too hard either. During the brushing process, move the brush not only up and down, but in circles as well and pay special attention not only to the front, but also to the back of your teeth.
Choose a sugar-free toothpaste with high fluoride content or, if you suffer from sensitive teeth or gums, choose a special product that has been developed to address such problems. The mouthwash that you use should have anti-bacterial effects to prevent the formation of plaque and to clean the rest of the mouth as well.
Regular Visits to the Dentist
To be able to prevent the appearance of cavities, you also need get your teeth regularly checked by your Littleton dentist. It usually takes a long time for cavities to become visible and to cause symptoms, such as discomfort or pain, but dentists can detect cavities in the early stages, when they are very easy to fix. Regular dental appointments are also essential for detecting other dental issues, such as incipient gum disease or an inflammation, so schedule a visit to your dentist every six months even if you don’t have any visible dental problems.
With the above tips about how to avoid cavities, you will surely be able to maintain the health of your teeth and to keep having the beautiful smile that you are so proud of.