Cavities are a common oral health occurrence for many people around the world. Preventative dental care habits like brushing twice daily, flossing once or more a day, using a fluoride mouthwash, and
regular dental cleanings, are the best way to avoid tooth decay and the formation of cavities. When it comes to preventing cavities, there are many different preventative methods to discuss with a dental professional concerning how to treat them and work to keep them from occurring at all.
Daily Cavity Prevention
Not all cavity prevention and treatment needs to be handled in a dentist’s office. There are many different things you can do at home daily to prevent cavities. General oral hygiene habits are great to keep on a schedule for the overall health of your mouth, but there is more to consider to keep the entire mouth as healthy as possible.
- Diet considerations
- Brushing teeth twice daily
- Flossing at least once a day
- Mouthwash with fluoride
Diet can have a huge impact on the health of teeth and the mouth. For example, eating carbs can impact the integrity of the enamel by sticking to the surface of teeth for longer, causing plaque and tartar build-up, which eventually leads to cavities if left untreated by a dentist. Diets rich in sugars and acids found in candy, soda, and other unhealthy foods can wreak havoc on the surface of teeth if not brushed or rinsed away between meals. These daily habits are imperative to preventing tooth decay at all development points. Simply removing sticky substances like sugar and carbs can impact the integrity of the teeth’ enamel. Avoiding these foods or replacing sugar with ingredients like Xylitol can help keep teeth healthier and stronger for longer between visits to the dentist.
The sweetener Xylitol has proven to create a barrier for some time between the teeth and bacteria, so sugarless gum, for example, with Xylitol, protects the surface of the teeth and encourages saliva production to wash away debris plaque and germs in the mouth.
General Dentistry Treatments for Cavity Prevention
Your dentist at Supreme Dentistry can help prevent cavities in several ways:
- Fluoride treatments: There are different fluoride treatments available in general dentistry practices to help protect the enamel of teeth from cavities. A dentist can provide supplemental fluoride to accompany the fluoride in community water supplies, in toothpaste, in the coating of floss, and mouthwash. Fluoride can also be administered directly to the teeth via a coating, foam, varnish, or gel. These are either rinsed off or left to soak into the surface of the tooth itself, strengthening the enamel to better prevent cavities from forming.
- Cleanings: Cleanings are ideally scheduled twice a year to allow dental professionals to remove hard tartar, reach out-of-view plaque build-ups between molars or behind teeth, and clean stains that regular brushing can’t lift. These deep cleans provide teeth with a fresh start to maintain complete oral health with the most efficient results.
- Sealants: Sealants are painted onto the surface of the teeth, primarily molars where 90% of cavities occur, to help keep the weak points of the enamel-safe from decay and the development of cavities. While extremely effective for years at a time, they’re not as common as other techniques. Asking a dentist about this treatment may be an excellent choice for preventing cavities.
Call Supreme Dentistry for a Cleaning
Supreme Dentistry is excited to discuss options for preventing cavities and helping achieve clean, strong, and healthy teeth for all of its patients. Call
844.966.2333 to make an appointment to discuss deep cleaning, daily habits to encourage, and treatments for cavity prevention.
