If your smile has an enemy, its name is Cavities! Cavities are a common cause of children missing school and tooth decay (dental caries) tops the list of common chronic childhood illnesses.
Adults also suffer from tooth decay. In fact, over 90% of adults in the US have at least one cavity in a permanent tooth. Twenty-five percent of us have untreated tooth decay. When cavities aren’t treated by a dentist, they grow to affect deeper layers of the tooth, then to neighboring teeth and into the jawbone.
A mere 1% of humans avoid cavities throughout life. Some people are more prone to developing cavities than others, so they must be particularly vigilant with dental hygiene. But children over three years of age and adults need to brush their teeth twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste and thoroughly floss once a day. For infants to children aged three, parents should use un-fluroidated toothpaste.
You can take measures to ward off decay in your teeth and your children’s teeth with these eight tips. However, if you have a toothache or know that you have a cavity, call Chisholm Trail Smile Center in Duncan today at 580.255.4880 to schedule a checkup with Dr. Matthew Bridges.
8 Tips to Prevent Cavities
#1: Don’t Allow Sugars and Other Starches to Linger
Sugars are a type of starch, and all starches cause tooth decay. The bacteria that live in your mouth eat starches and create an acidic byproduct that attacks tooth enamel. This acid softens enamel, then the cavity-causing Streptococcus mutans can eat tooth enamel to create cavities.
Starch that lingers in the mouth is prone to kick off the cavity process. So, after eating anything starchy or sweet, rinse your mouth thoroughly with water. Take it one step further by using a straw to drink all beverages except water. Also avoid hard candies, like suckers, mints, and Jolly Ranchers, unless you use the sugar-free version. The sweetener Xylitol is often found in gum and mints, and it actually helps boost oral health.
#2: Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate!
The bacteria in your mouth love a warm, wet, dark environment to grow and wreak havoc on your teeth and gums. Hydrating will not only wash away foods, starches, sugars, and bad bacteria, but it also helps saliva return to its proper pH. All of these things deter cavities.
#3: Floss Correctly and Thoroughly Every Day
Many cavities form between teeth and at the gum line because people don’t floss, or they don’t floss correctly. A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that one-third of Americans never floss. Never! Most people say flossing is difficult and frustrating, so they just don’t do it. Brushing alone does a lot to thwart tooth decay, but brushing cannot replace flossing.
If flossing is difficult for you, ask for a demonstration and hands-on guidance from our dental hygienist. You can also watch this video.
Many people prefer to use pre-threaded flossers with an ergonomic design. These little, disposable tools fit like a pen between the fingers, and they’re small enough to reach all the way back to wisdom teeth in the mouth. Flossers are cheap! There’s no good excuse for not flossing.
See the next 5 Simple Tips for Preventing Cavities
in next week’s blog!
Let’s Fight Cavities Together
Call Chisholm Trail Smile Center in Duncan at 580.255.4880 to schedule a consultation, checkup, or cleaning with Dr. Bridges. Our entire team loves kids, so your little ones will feel well cared for in our office, as well.
