Cavities. a monster we all fear since our childhood. This scary thing took away the joy of eating sweets guilt-free. But after all this fear and care many of us still have cavities. Why? Obviously due to our own negligence.
Not eating toffees alone can not prevent cavities. Let’s learn what are the tried and tested ways of preventing cavities but before that, we need to learn what is a cavity and if it is even harmful or not?
Cavities are among the world’s most common health problems. These are characterized by permanently damaged areas in your teeth that develop into small holes and openings.
You may know cavities by their more common name i.e. tooth decay or caries. Cavities can be a result of various actors such as bacteria in the mouth, frequent snacking, sugary foods, and poor oral hygiene.
How to prevent Cavities?
Brush Well
Brushing is the most basic step in maintaining oral hygiene. Maintaining oral hygiene alone can help you a bundle in preventing cavities. Start brushing your teeth at least twice a day, preferably after every meal. Using fluoride toothpaste to brush your teeth can drastically reduce the risk of cavities. You can also use a string of floss on an interdental brush to clean between the teeth.
Rinse Your Mouth Frequently
Over-brushing your teeth can result in the weakening of teeth enamel and injure your gums. This leaves you with no better option but to rinse your mouth frequently to get rid of all the food remains in there. Cavities develop when food sits in your mouth for too long. So it is best to rinse your mouth every time you eat or drink something other than water. You can occasionally use mouthwashes that contain fluoride like Listerine.
Avoid Snacking
As cavities develop when food stays in the mouth for long, it is best to avoid frequent snacking and sipping. Whenever food enters your mouth the bacteria in the mouth produce acids to digest it. This acid can destroy tooth enamel, making your teeth susceptible to damage and rotting. Snacking and drinking throughout the day means that your teeth are under a constant attack on these digestive acids.
Go For Fluoride Treatment
If there one nutrient that can help you most in preventing cavities, it is fluoride. Your doctor can prescribe you a fluoride treatment in the form of custom trays that fit over your teeth for the application of prescription fluoride. This is done only if your risk of tooth decay is very high.
Eat Healthy
Whatever you eat impacts your orals health. Your teeth health depends on the food you eat not only for nutrition, but the food texture can also play a vital role in tooth health. Avoid eating foods that get stuck in your teeth when you can not brush them after. Moreover, foods like fresh fruits and vegetables increase saliva flow. Some foods like tea, coffee, and gum also help in washing away the food particles from your mouth.
Sweet foods can be your greatest enemy if you already are at risk of cavities. Such food if stays in your mouth harbor bacteria that provides teeth degenerative acids.
Avoid Using Straw
This simple habit can prevent you from getting cavities. When you use a straw, you tend to keep the liquid in your mouth for longer. The longer the liquid stays, the more damage it does to your teeth. SO it is better to chug down liquids, especially sweet ones, straight from the glass.
Drink Tap Water
Yes, you read that right. If you are certain that the water in your taps is not contaminated, you should drink it to protect your teeth. Most public water outlets have added fluoride that can significantly reduce the incidence of tooth decay. But beware that the water you are drinking is not contaminated, you don’t want to take in illnesses instead of fluoride.
Try Dental Sealants
Sealant is a protective coating made up of plastic. This applied to the backside of your teeth. The purpose of this sealant is to cover the crannies and grooves of the teeth where food can get stuck. This should not be considered a medical procedure as The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends sealants for all school-age children. Although sealants can last for a year without being replaced, they still need regular checkups by best dentist in Lahore to ensure proper placement and functioning.
Visit A Dentist
Regular visits to a dentist are a must. Regularly visiting a dentist will lead to better prevention methods, early diagnosis, and an efficient plan of action. If you have not been consulting a dentist till now, it’s time for you to consult the best dentist in Lahore through Marham.pk. A dentist can not only help prevent teeth decay but can also provide proper treatment for any teeth-related problem you might be facing.
Author bio: Hiba Batool; a medical researcher and writer at Marham.pk. Hiba is a dietitian by profession who suggests home remedies to cure different health issues.
