The process of tooth decay occurs after some time; this is a result of wear and tear on teeth, and failure to maintain good oral care and cleanliness. To help you prevent tooth decay, we have listed some tips to help you keep your teeth healthy and in good condition.
When tooth decay happens, the tooth enamel erodes at first, then it penetrates to the dentin of the tooth. Enamel is the hard outer layer of your tooth before it enters the hard inner layer, called dentin. If each layer of the tooth has broken down, you will expose the pulp of your tooth. This typically occurs when a patient visits the office with a request for a root canal to save the tooth or to simply fill it. There are many proactive steps and tooth care tips that you can easily implement at home to help prevent or reduce the breakdown of the tooth.
So, let’s get straight into it.
The bacteria react with food particles to produce acids, which disintegrate and demineralize the tooth surface. This process is called tooth decay. Think of tooth decay this way: every time you eat, there is an acid attack on the tooth. During this time, a counterattack is happening by your body by rinsing away the food and acid with saliva. In this process, saliva not only neutralizes the acids, but it also has some minerals (calcium and phosphate) that rebuild the areas that were demineralized or attacked by the acids. This process of rebuilding is termed remineralization. This is the to-and-fro process of attacking and rebuilding, just like a game of tug-o-war in your mouth. Tooth decay and cavities may be closely monitored with the help dental professional and with adherence to a dental hygiene and cavity prevention treatment plan created by an expert dentist.
Tooth cavities have a specific cause. Here are the three main factors involved in tooth decay, and addressing these can help to prevent decay.
Chewing food over a longer period or eating between meals can also lead to tooth decay. Eating sticky foods such as candies, caramels, and chocolates as snacks will be extremely damaging to one, as they produce excess acid that the saliva cannot accommodate. It is recommended to avoid such food items that damage your teeth. When children go to sleep with a bottle in their mouth, the fluid in the bottle, like milk, fruit juice, or other drinks, can leave bacteria to create acids that result in quick and fast damage. This is termed as the baby bottle tooth decay. This condition is commonly called baby bottle tooth decay. To control tooth decay, sugary or sticky food and sweet drinks between meals should be limited.
It is important to brush your teeth twice a day and floss once a day to eliminate plaque and bacteria. Healthy teeth are normally clean. Limit sugary and starchy food items as more harmful bacteria feed on them, causing tooth decay. Two of the common bacteria that are associated with tooth decay include Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus. Although tiny proportions of these bacteria are present in all people, their high proportions you to cavities and you lose the battle against tooth decay. Your dentist can test the levels of these bacteria by testing your saliva.
The third major tooth decay factor is the current situation of your teeth and mouth. This includes your teeth shape, alignment, structure, your saliva, oral health care, and dental hygiene. Saliva is quite important as it delays mineral loss and helps remineralize. Nonetheless, the production of saliva gets influenced by some health problems or medications, and this may give room for tooth decay to progress further and result in cavities.
There are many available ways to reduce tooth decay, including eating the right foods at the right time and avoiding snacks and binge eating in between meals. One of the most important things that will aid in the balancing of this "tug-of-war" on your tooth surfaces and eventually stop the tooth decay process from further turning into the cavity process is to brush your teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. The following are some of the effective lifestyles that can enable you to stop tooth decay effectively.
Final Thought
The prevention of tooth decay is quite a simple strategy with regards to consistency. The best formula for keeping a smile would be good oral hygiene, good diet, and dental check-ups and visits. Start doing these habits, and later on, your teeth will pay back in your future lifetime.
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