Prevent Cavities With These 6 Oral Hygiene Tips
Sometimes, despite what you believe to be a valiant effort with your daily oral care routine, a cavity develops. While you will need to have it taken care of by our Plantation, FL, dentists, there are ways you can confidently move forward with your head held high and stop future cavities from happening in the first place.
Here’s what you need to know about and 6 habits to adopt if you want to maintain a healthy smile.
What Is a Cavity?
A cavity is a hole in the tooth that has been caused by . Any individual, no matter their age, can develop cavities if proper oral hygiene habits are not practiced. For many patients, cavities occur due to a combination of foods consumed and inadequate brushing.
Despite being preventable, cavities are very common. They’re also easily treated so you can enjoy a healthy, restored smile. When one is found, our dentists will remove the decay and treat the affected area with a tooth-colored filling.
With this type of filling, having a cavity filled is no longer noticeable as the material used matches your natural tooth enamel. You can smile confidently knowing there is no risk of any metal showing at all.
What to Look For: Cavity Symptoms
Depending on where your cavity is and its size, your symptoms could vary. Sometimes cavities are small enough that they don’t produce any symptoms. These typically have to be caught through observation either by you or one of our dentists.
Odds are you have a cavity if you’re experiencing:
- Pain when biting down
- A toothache or out-of-the-blue tooth pain
- Tooth sensitivity that occurs with hot, cold, sweet, or acidic foods and beverages
- Pits or holes in your teeth that are clearly visible
- Stains on any surface of your tooth that is brown, black, or white
Notice any of the symptoms above? Please call our Plantation, FL, dental office. Our dentists can take a look and alleviate your discomfort with the proper treatment.
Techniques for Stopping Tooth Decay
Our dentists want your smile to be as healthy as possible so on top of regular dental check-ups, it’s encouraged that you also care for your teeth and gums at home. We’ve lined up a few things to consider below.
1. Follow a Daily Oral Health Routine
If you have been a little lax with your oral hygiene lately, now is the time to really commit to the process of keeping your mouth clean every day. The general rule of thumb is to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss once daily. Be sure to brush every tooth surface and clear any debris or food particle from in between your teeth.
In general, we recommend trying the following:
- An soft-bristled electric toothbrush over a manual version, if possible
- Fluoride toothpaste that’s non-abrasive (no charcoal)
- Brushing your teeth for at least 2 minutes at a time
- Placing your brush at a 45-degree angle to your teeth so gums are also cleaned
2. Embrace Fluoride
Make sure that at least the toothpaste you use contains fluoride. Fluoride is your teeth’s best friend as it works to rebuild weakened enamel, slow down the loss of minerals from enamel, and . Aside from its presence inside dental care products, many communities add fluoride into the public water supply for residents.
3. Visit Our Dentists Twice a Year
Unless you have a dental issue that requires more frequent attention, our dentists would like to see you in our office every 6 months for an oral exam and professional teeth cleaning. Even if all is well, these visits allow for our dentists to monitor your oral health and take note of any developing areas of concern.
4. Choose Healthy, Nutritious Foods & Drinks
A balanced diet not only does a body good, but it helps your mouth as well. Deciding to enjoy a glass of water instead of soda or juice, for example, washes away leftover bits of food and doesn’t leave sugar behind on teeth. Eating healthier foods will not only limit the amount of plaque that develops on your teeth, but they’ll give you more energy as well.
5. Add a Mouthwash into the Mix
Swishing with a fluoride or antibacterial mouthwash after brushing and flossing your teeth can reduce your risk for cavities. In general, mouthwash works to stop plaque from building up, strengthen enamel, and kill bacteria capable of causing gum infection or disease. It can also help reach areas otherwise not accessed by a toothbrush.
6. Ask About Dental Sealants
Thoughdental sealants tend to be a more popular preventive treatment for children, they can also benefit adults. Once applied, sealants are designed to prevent decay from entering the fine grooves and pits located on molars.
These narrow, hard-to-clean “fissures” are commonly found on back teeth which makes them especially susceptible to cavities. Even the bristles of a toothbrush may not be able to reach inside these areas to properly get rid of any plaque or food particles. If you’re at higher risk for cavities, sealants might be something to consider for your smile.
Keep Your Smile Happy & Healthy
Come see our dentists in Plantation serving Greater Fort Lauderdale, FL, if you think you have a cavity. We’ll want to take care of the issue sooner than later so nothing worsens. Call Barr Dental Group today at (954) 327-7400 to request an appointment.