Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
How to Prevent Cavities: Tips from Dental Professionals
Do you keep brushing and flossing your teeth but still can't figure out how to prevent cavities? Don’t worry—many others are in the same boat.
Even though cavities can be prevented, 9% of preteens and teenagers in Canada deal with or have dealt with a cavity in the tooth. Adults aren’t behind, either. Cavities are part of 96% of adult Canadians' dental history.
But your desire to unveil the secrets to a cavity-free smile doesn't have to be just a dream, it is attainable! Read along to discover expert tips that dental professionals swear by to keep your pearly whites pristine and cavity-free!
But first, let’s get some basics out of the way:
What are Cavities?
Cavities are tiny holes in your teeth formed and housed by acid-producing bacteria. They bother young and adults regardless of age and basic oral hygiene practices.
How do Cavities Form?
Are you wondering what causes cavities?
Here is how they form: Remember the last time you drank a fruit juice? Did you brush your teeth right after? No? Chances are some sugars may be left in your mouth. Such times are celebrations for the bacteria in your mouth.
Whenever you drink or eat some sugary or starchy stuff, bacteria feast on its leftovers. As they satisfy their appetite, they release acids that attack your tooth's outer layers. Over time, the acid wears down your tooth enamel, making way for tiny holes through which bacteria can sneak in and cause tooth decay.
If you do not take care of your teeth well and keep dodging your dentist appointments, these cavities can worsen and cause major issues down the road.
It is one of the major reasons why 6% of adults in Canada do not have a single natural tooth left.
Delving Deeper into Cavities:
Cavities, or dental caries, are structural damages and holes in teeth caused by prolonged exposure to acids produced by oral bacteria. Teeth with carries aren’t affected in one go, but a series of events:
- Bacterial Action:
The natural bacteria in your mouth feed on leftover starches and sugars and combine with them to form sticky plaque.
- Plaque and Tartar Formation:
When this plaque stays on your teeth for a long time, it turns into a hard layer over your teeth called tartar.
- Acid Attack:
Cavities start forming when bacteria in these layers actively convert sugars into acid. These acids attack the hard outer layer of your tooth and erode its enamel.
- Demineralization:
Enamel starts losing essential minerals, causing initial white decay spots.
- Cavity Formation:
As acid erosion continues, it ultimately creates holes in the enamel.
- Progression:
Decay reaches the softer dentin layer of your tooth and possibly the tooth pulp, which causes pain.
Common Causes of Cavities:
Want to know how to protect your teeth from cavity? Just keep a tab on these three things that support the formation of cavities:
1. Bacteria
Bacteria naturally present in our mouths, specifically Streptococcus and Lactobacillus species, metabolize the sugars and starches in leftover food particles on our teeth. As they digest them, they produce acids that attack and weaken tooth enamel, eventually causing cavities.
2. Sugary Foods
Having sugary and starchy snacks and drinks provides more fuel to these bacteria for producing acids. They can increase in number and exacerbate the worsening enamel erosion.
3. Poor Oral Hygiene
If we do not brush and floss our teeth regularly and adequately, the sticky layer of plaque on our teeth solidifies into tartar. It makes the perfect habitat for bacteria to grow and produce more acids for forming cavities.
Consequences of Untreated Cavities
If cavities aren't detected and treated promptly, they result in:
1. Pain:
Cavities cause pain in teeth, which worsens when they reach the internal layer of teeth where nerves are present.
2. Infection:
When cavities are not detected in a timely manner or left untreated, bacteria seep into the dental pulp, causing an infection called pulpitis. The infection can also spread to adjacent teeth, causing severe infection with abscesses.
3. Tooth Decay and Loss:
Cavities can cause severe tooth decay. It harms the structure of our teeth, necessitating extraction when they can't be restored with dental treatments like fillings or crowns.
Why is Preventive Care Important?
Preventive treatment is critical for everyone who is wondering how to prevent cavities. By being proactive, you can maintain cavity-free and shining teeth. Even if you already brush and floss your teeth regularly, there are still long-term benefits of knowing how to do it properly and promptly and scheduling routine dental exams to ensure everything is good in your mouth.
Long-Term Benefits Of Preventive Care:
- Cost Savings:
You can save money by avoiding expensive dental treatments for cavities, like crowns and fillings.
- Avoiding Discomfort:
You can boost the overall comfort and quality of your life by keeping pain, infection and sensitivity issues at bay.
- Teeth Preservation:
You can preserve your teeth's dental structure by avoiding tooth extractions and invasive dental procedures that teeth with carries require.
Daily Oral Hygiene Practices
You can prevent cavities by staying committed to daily oral hygiene practices endorsed by dental professionals:
1. Brushing
Make sure you brush your teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste to maintain cleanliness and fortify your teeth against cavities.
2. Flossing
Floss every day to remove plaque and food debris stuck between your teeth.
3. Mouthwash
Add mouthwash to your daily dental regimen to eradicate bacteria and bolster cavity defence.
Regular Dental Checkups
As queasy as the thought of dental instruments might make you, regular dental checkups are essential to avoid long-term exposure to these instruments probing around your teeth. The more you visit now, the less you will have to visit later.
Visiting your dentist regularly is necessary for maintaining optimal oral health as they make way for:
1. Early detection:
Your regular dental checkups can help detect dental issues like cavities, gum disease, and infections while they are in the initial stages. This way, you can benefit from timely intervention to prevent further complications.
2. Professional Cleaning:
Sometimes, just brushing and flossing alone can't get the job done. Professional cleaning is necessary to remove plaque and tartar buildup that brushing cannot address for healthier gums and teeth.
3. Personalized Advice:
Sometimes, aggressive brushing may cause gum bleeding issues in people with a genetic history of gum diseases, while others may have even shinier teeth. Dental checkups can help you get advice on oral hygiene practices and preventive care tailored to your specific needs, ensuring your long-term dental wellness.
Dental Sealants and Fluoride Treatments
To address the question of how to avoid cavities in your mind and take your proactive teeth care one step further, you can get dental sealants and fluoride treatments. They are key preventive measures for protecting teeth.
- Sealants:
Sealants are thin coatings that your dentist can apply to your molars and premolars to fill in grooves and pits. This can make your overall tooth surface smooth, preventing bacteria and food particles from settling in and causing decay.
- Fluoride Treatments:
Much like sealants, fluoride treatments would involve your dentist applying fluoride to your teeth to strengthen their enamel. It could be a fluoride gel, foam, or varnish. It can remineralize your teeth and prevent cavities.
Myths About Preventing Cavities
Let’s now debunk some common myths regarding cavity prevention:
❌Sugar-free sodas are safe.
✅ While sugar-free sodas do not have sugars that can fuel bacteria growth, they still have acids that can erode teeth enamel, increasing the risk of cavities.
❌Only children get cavities.
✅ 96% of adults in Canada have dealt with at least one cavity well into their adulthood.
❌Cavities always cause pain.
✅Early-stage cavities are often asymptomatic initially; they won't cause any pain until much later when they have reached the internal layers of teeth.
A Healthy Smile is Easy
Achieving and maintaining a healthy smile is easier than you think! Just commit to daily brushing and flossing, regular dental check-ups, and consider treatments like dental sealants and fluoride applications to prevent cavities and ensure long-term oral health.
Imagine the confidence of flashing a bright, cavity-free smile, knowing you've invested in your dental wellness. Start today; book an appointment at a trusted dental office and reap the benefits.
Your smile deserves the best care possible!
Linked References:
https://www.canada.ca/en/healt...
https://caphd.ca/wp-content/up...
Additional Reading:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.go...
https://dentistry.uic.edu/news...
https://www.livescience.com/44...
