How to Prevent Cavities

Cavities are decayed parts of your tooth that slowly develop into tiny holes, and they are a big nuisance in more ways than one. They are a dental issue that could lead to further serious conditions, and they also affect our confidence. Thus, figuring out how to prevent cavities is quite an important task. 

Preventing cavities is, fortunately, pretty simple. Good oral hygiene, diet changes, and regular visits to your dentist are only some of the options you can try. Additionally, dental procedures, such as the best veneers in West Loop Chicago, are also a great choice in fighting this dental problem. 

Read on to find out how to prevent cavities by fighting all their causes, and get your beautiful smile back. 

What Causes Cavities?

The biggest cause of tooth cavities is tooth decay. Tooth decay is caused by various things, such as irregular or poor oral hygiene, consuming too much sugary food, and bacteria. It is a rather slow process, and it begins when plaque forms on your teeth. 

Plaque is a translucent or white substance that covers your teeth, and it’s made of food particles and different bacteria. If you brush your teeth and floss regularly, you remove most of it, and your dentist can remove anything you can’t get to. However, if you don’t practice regular oral hygiene, the plaque can harden and become more permanent. 

Hardened plaque is called tartar, and it can only be removed by a dentist. The bacteria in the tartar quickly start eating away at your tooth and removing minerals. They leave tiny holes in your teeth, and these holes are called cavities. Cavities can appear on the tooth itself or the root.

How to Prevent Cavities From Forming

Although cavities are a serious dental condition, it is actually pretty easy to prevent them. A combination of effort from both you and your dentist should be more than enough to help you stop them from forming. 

Know Your Risk Factors

Knowing whether you are at risk of developing them is a big part of figuring out how to prevent cavities. You can find this out through a detailed dental exam. Different risk groups require different prevention and treatment, and an exam will let your dentist know where you stand.

Thus, it is important to visit your dentist regularly and stay up to date with your dental care. That way, you will prevent cavities before they even get a chance to cause any trouble, and your teeth will stay healthy. 

Regular Oral Hygiene

Flossing and brushing your teeth every day is perhaps the most important step in cavity prevention. Regular brushing will remove most of the plaque from your teeth, and flossing will help remove the plaque in between your teeth. It is best to brush your teeth after every meal, as that will ensure no plaque lingers for more than a few hours. 

Use fluoride-containing toothpaste and mouthwash, as they will help kill any excess bacteria. Using a solution of water and fluoride will also help.

Avoid Sugary Foods and Drinks

Foods containing lots of sugar are some of the biggest contributors to plaque forming. The bacteria in your mouth feed on the sugar, multiply, and form the thin film that causes cavities later on. The same goes for drinks such as sodas. Avoiding these as much as you can will help prevent cavities and save you a lot of trouble later on. Plus, not consuming sweets and sodas will help you be healthier overall, so it is a win-win situation.

Avoid Frequent Snacking

When you snack frequently throughout the day, you help the bacteria in your mouth create excess acids that can harm your teeth. Thus, you should avoid snacking too much and stick to the same meal schedule every day. 

If you have to eat something in-between meals, we suggest fresh fruits and vegetables. They increase the flow of saliva and are healthy for your teeth. Drinking unsweetened tea or coffee is also okay, as the liquid will wash away any lingering food particles.

Avoid Smoking

Tobacco can cause many different dental issues, and cavities are no exception. It aids the bacteria responsible for plaque-forming, and it also stains your teeth. The stains are dangerous for your enamel and weaken your teeth, causing cavities to form sooner.

Fluoride and Antibacterial Treatments

Your dentist might suggest getting fluoride or antibacterial treatments. They will help strengthen your teeth and give you everything you need to help fight cavities. This option is common for those who are at a high risk of developing cavities, as diet changes and good oral hygiene are often not enough. These treatments come in the form of different mouth rinses or special toothpaste. Additionally, your dentist can also prescribe some meds if nothing else is working. 

Dental Veneers

Sometimes, knowing how to prevent cavities is not enough. If the condition has progressed too far, it is time to turn to dental procedures that can help cover the damage. Dental veneers are the best choice you can make. 

Teeth veneers are thin covers placed on your teeth that give them back their classic shape and cover up any imperfections or damage. Veneers can be made of porcelain or composite resin materials. Which material you will choose depends on your condition and what you and your dentist opt for. 

Apart from covering up any imperfections, veneers will also protect your teeth from developing any further cavities. Thus, getting veneers is a good investment in your present confidence and in your future health and happiness.

In Conclusion

Brushing, flossing, visiting your dentist regularly, and making healthy changes to your lifestyle should be enough to get rid of cavities. If it is not, you can always get dental veneers and let your smile shine bright despite the damage. What are you waiting for? Now that you know how to prevent cavities, it is time for you to get your shiny smile back.