Straight from Your Local Dental Clinic, Reduce and Prevent Cavities with These 4 Tips

It’s the word that makes you wince every time you hear your dentist say it: cavity. It’s not the word itself that worries you, it’s the associations that come with it: the necessary appointment to repair the tooth, the drilling, the filling, and possibly a stern reminder that you really, really should be flossing every day.

Cavities and tooth decay are most commonly caused by the residue of carbohydrate-rich foods on the teeth. Carbohydrates, such as starches and sugars, are found in everything from fruit, bread, and milk to candy, soda pop, and breakfast cereal. When not cleaned from the tooth, leftover food debris attracts bacteria, which consumes it and converts it into acids. These acids become plaque, and wear down the enamel and can create holes in the tooth – and a cavity is born.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. While tooth decay can happen to anyone, there are things you can do to reduce and even prevent its prevalence in your teeth. Follow these tips, and your next trip to the dental clinic could be filled with compliments on what exceptionally healthy teeth you have.

Brush Your Teeth after Every Meal

This might sound painfully obvious to anyone over the age of six, but you’d be surprised how many adults will put off brushing for hours. The longer that food residue remains on the enamel of your teeth, the more time bacteria have to spend converting it to acid that wears the tooth down. By brushing as soon as you can and not letting it slide, you nip the problem in the bud.

Avoid Going to Bed without Brushing

The average adult sleeps between seven and eight hours every night. That’s a lot of time for plaque to build up! Even if you can’t brush immediately after dinner and desert, your dentist would recommend that you definitely brush before bed.

Floss

Yes, yes, we all get told to do this more often. And every time we really do mean to get into the habit, but it’s hard picking up new habits. However, the spaces behind your teeth are great places for plaque to build up, and you just can’t reach those places with a brush. To keep your teeth cavity-free, floss regularly – not just for the two weeks after you visit a dental clinic.

Eat Healthily

This is really just good life advice in general, but it’s especially good for your teeth. Junk foods rich in sugars and other carbohydrates increase the risk of tooth decay and cavities. Of course, your dentist won’t begrudge you a sweet snack every now and again, especially if you brush after, but an overall healthy diet is a great step towards healthier, cleaner teeth.