Cavity Prevention Advice That Works for Everyone

When it comes to dental care, everyone gets a little lazy with their routine from time to time. That said, you should avoid doing that because cutting corners can easily lead to dental health problems. This includes problems with, not only your teeth, but also your gums.

One of the main reasons to take your oral hygiene routine seriously is to prevent cavities. For those who don’t know, a cavity is a small hole that develops in your teeth. Typically, it forms because the bacteria in your mouth convert leftover food particles into acid. As the bacteria and acid come together, they form plaque that can cause tooth decay.

Once you get a cavity, your only option is to have it filled by your dentist. In some cases, the dentist you see in Collingswood might need to put a crown over your tooth. A crown is generally only needed if the cavity is too big for a filling to be effective. If you wait too long, the decay can reach your tooth pulp, and an infection can develop. At this point, you’ll need a root canal to remove the infection and repair the damage.

Tips to Prevent Cavities From Forming

No one wants to deal with fillings, crowns, and root canals. The best way to avoid needing these procedures is to take steps to avoid getting cavities in the first place. Visiting a Collingswood dentist is something that you need to do on a regular basis. However, there are still steps that you can take at home to keep your teeth and gums healthy for a long time.

Brush Your Teeth Regularly

The first and most important tip is to brush your teeth regularly. This means that you should be brushing, at minimum, twice a day. Make sure that you use fluoride toothpaste, and brush for at least two minutes every time. Many mechanical toothbrushes have two-minute timers to make it easier for you.

Pro Tip: If you find yourself in a situation where you can’t brush your teeth, consider chewing sugar-free gum or rinsing your mouth with water. It promotes saliva production, which kills germs and defends against gum disease and tooth decay.

Don’t Skip the Mouthwash

Many people think that brushing alone is enough to prevent cavities and tooth decay. However, using mouthwash can go a long way towards strengthening your teeth. Consider using a fluoride rinse twice a day. Make sure that you always use a fluoride mouthwash after brushing so that it can sit on your teeth.

Visit Your Collingswood Dentist Regularly

There’s only so much that you can do to keep your teeth in tiptop shape. You need to visit a professional for regular exams and tooth cleanings. The general guideline advised by dental professionals is to see your dentist twice a year or once every six months. If you’re very prone to issues with your teeth, you might want to visit your dentist more often.

Ask Your Dentist About Dental Sealants

If you want to give yourself the highest chance of avoiding cavities, consider asking your dentist about sealants. The application of sealants will seal off the nooks and grooves in your teeth in which food becomes trapped. The goal is to help you avoid getting cavities in the first place. It’s not uncommon for sealants to last 10 years or longer, so it’s a good investment.

Drink More Tap Water

When you want some water, it’s easy to reach for the bottled stuff. However, drinking tap water is actually better for your teeth because cities put fluoride in their water supplies. This means that simply drinking tap water can aid in cavity prevention. Beyond remineralizing your teeth, drinking any kind of water promotes the production of saliva that eliminates harmful bacteria from your mouth.

Reach for Foods That Are Healthy for Your Teeth

Did you know that a number of foods are healthy for your teeth? Much in the same way that a heart-healthy diet is good for your heart, a tooth-healthy diet can protect your teeth from decay. So, which foods should you reach for first? Fresh fruits, dairy, and vegetables are the best for your teeth.

Ask Your Dentist About Other Steps You Can Take

No one knows better than your dentist what’s best for your oral health. In fact, there are some other steps and options not listed here that might be good for your teeth that only your dentist can confirm. You should talk to your dentist about how you can further improve the health of your teeth and gums. Your dentist might even recommend certain products that can help you achieve that award-winning smile you’ve always wanted.

Treatments for Cavities

No matter how well you take care of your teeth, you may still end up with a cavity. Thankfully, there are a number of treatments for cavities. Here are some of the most common ones.

Fillings

Fillings are the most common dental treatment option for small cavities. With this treatment option, your dentist removes the decayed part of your tooth. Then, the missing portion is restored with a filling.

Crowns

If your cavity is too large to be filled, you might need a crown. A crown is a cap that’s placed over the tooth to keep it a normal size and shape while preventing further damage.

Root Canals

The last option is for a cavity where the decay has already made its way to the tooth pulp. When this happens, infection is a real possibility. Thus, dentists have little option but to do a root canal. This procedure involves the dentist removing the nerve and pulp from the tooth before sealing the roots.

New Treatments

The good news is that scientists are working on brand new dental treatments every day. For example, some researchers are testing the effects of fluorescent lights that can find tooth decay before it has the chance to develop into a cavity. In such a situation, sealants or even fluoride supplements could prevent the cavity altogether.

Contact Your Local Dentist in Collingswood

In the end, the easiest way to avoid problems with tooth decay and gum disease is to always practice cavity prevention at home. Use the tips we talked about above, and visit your local Collingswood dentist regularly.