5 Dentist-Approved Tips to Prevent Tooth Decay
About 92% of adults aged 20 to 64 years old have permanent teeth decay. Fortunately, only 6% of them have untreated decay. On average, adults have 3.28 decayed or missing permanent teeth.
Do these figures make you feel scared of getting tooth decay? This article is for you! Keep reading to find out five dentist-recommended tips for tooth decay prevention.
1. Brush with Fluoride Toothpaste
When acids attack the tooth enamel, minerals necessary for a strong tooth decrease. Meanwhile, the enamel layer remineralizes when consuming calcium, phosphate, and fluoride. Often, the minerals we lose in our enamel outweigh the minerals we gain, resulting in tooth decay.
To prevent this, brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste every meal. Fluoride helps in tooth decay prevention by disrupting the production of acid. It makes the tooth more resistant to acid attacks, reversing early tooth decay.
2. Get Dental Sealant for Tooth Decay Prevention
Applying a thin protective coating on the surfaces of the teeth is one of the best ways to prevent tooth decay. Dental sealant helps close off grooves and crannies of teeth where bacteria usually live. These form a protective shield for the enamel of the tooth, sealing out food and plaque bacteria.
They’re commonly applied to the premolars and molars to prevent tooth decay. Dentists recommend children ages 6 to 14 and adults get dental sealant for tooth decay prevention.
3. Keep Healthy Diet
After eating sugary foods, the sugar combines with bacteria, resulting in plaque. It dissolves the enamel layer, resulting in the formation of cavities and leading to tooth decay.
The best way to prevent tooth decay is to be picky with your food. Opting to eat less sugary and processed food decreases the chance of plaque build-up.
Instead, eat as many fresh vegetables and fruits as you can. These help with the remineralization of tooth enamel and increases saliva flow.
4. Limit In-between Meals
It’s also best to limit in-between meals and snacks as they increase the chances of plaque build-up. The bacteria in the mouth produce acids while feeding off sugar and carbs.
Eating or drinking sugary foods throughout the day helps feed bacteria. It increases the production of acid, leading to the destruction of teeth enamel. It’s best to drink often than to keep eating snacks.
5. Visit Your Dentist Regularly
One of the many tips on how to prevent tooth decay is a regular dental check-up. It may seem like a lot of work, but dental check-ups help spot dental issues earlier.
During the dental check-up, the friendly dentist checks the status of your oral health. They’ll also clean your teeth to remove tartar and plaque build-up. These services help with tooth decay prevention and ensure oral health.
Prevent Tooth Decay Today!
Brushing with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day and getting a dental sealant helps with tooth decay prevention. Further, visiting your dentist every six months helps improve your oral health.
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