10 Ways To Prevent Your Teeth From Decay

Whenever you meet a new person, the second thing they notice about you after your clothes is your white teeth. Even if you don’t smile, they can see it while you are talking to them. That’s the reason it is important for you to take care of your oral hygiene and teeth. You use your mouth to eat, smile and speak, and poor oral health can affect all of them.

When your tooth starts to decay, it damages the outer layer of your tooth as well as it can destruct it from inside too. The most common health disorder in the world is tooth decay or cavity. There are several reasons why a tooth starts decaying but it usually occurs due to the build-up of plaque. But you can counteract the damage by opting below methods for keeping your teeth healthy and maintain mouth hygiene.

To prevent tooth decay, you should:

1.     Brush at least two times a day: Brushing is the most important way to protect your mouth from bacteria. Brush your teeth at least for two minutes, twice a day. Though it is suggested that you should brush your teeth after every meal. Plague starts building up just a few minutes after you eat. So, if that is not possible, rinse your mouth with water.

2.     Floss Every day: As brushing is important, flossing your teeth is equally important. Whether it is before or after brushing, you should floss every day. Tooth decay can develop when the plague is allowed to build up on teeth.  It cleans the small gaps between your teeth, where the plague is built, that brushing can’t. It cleans your teeth from front to the back.

3.     Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol: Smoking can make your teeth look yellowish and it also gives you bad breath. It affects your saliva which may cause mouth infection. Along with the oral problem, smoking can cause you some serious health issues. Smoking and alcohol not only damage your teeth but are also bad for your health. Patrick Walter from Dencover (https://www.dencover.com/) warns that the use of alcohol and tobacco causes mouth cancer, making good dental hygiene and regular visits to the dentist crucial for those who drink or smoke.

4.     Limit the intake of soda: Occasional intake of soda is not bad but it can damage your teeth. Soda contains nutrients but it also contains citric acid and phosphoric acid which are highly damaging for your teeth. It softens the enamel (outer part of a tooth) and causes decay or cavity.

5.     Use a fluoride toothpaste: A toothpaste is not only about whitening or mouth-freshening, but it’s a lot more than that. Whenever you purchase a toothpaste, buy a fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride is the leading defense against tooth decay. It fights germs that lead to tooth decay and cavity and provide a protective layer to your teeth.

6.     Don't ignore any symptom: If you have bleeding gums, excessive tooth sensitivity or pain, or even discolored teeth, these can be symptoms of oral infection. If these are left untreated, it can convert cavity into tooth infection and in the worst scenario, you can lose your teeth or bone density in your jaw. So, something like this happens or something unusual happens with your teeth, do visit your doctor because the longer you wait, the worse it could be for your mouth.

7.     Watch your diet: The food you choose can often affect your body health as well as your teeth. Your teeth need enough calcium. It is important for you to consume a healthy diet like milk, yogurt, cheese, fresh juices with other food that include vitamins and calcium. Eat crunchy fruits and vegetables, it increases the production of saliva. Keep your body hydrated. Sugar and candy intake should be limited as it produces acids when mixed with saliva and cause tooth damage or tooth decay. Consume nutrient-rich food, it keeps your teeth and gums healthy. Include vitamin D in your diet, it helps in absorbing calcium and nutrients.

Note: You need to balance your diet as excessive or deficiency of vitamins can lead to a risk of dental health problems, so you need to consume your food according to that.

8.     Choose your toothbrush according to your teeth: Some people think that they need a firm bristled brush to clean their teeth. But, along with your teeth, you need to protect your gums too. A hard bristled brush can damage your gums and enamel. For the majority of people, a soft bristle brush is comfortable. Along with choosing the right type of bristle, it is important to pay attention to the brushing technique. Gentle pressure is all you need to clean your teeth and soft bristle bends well which is a great help to clean your teeth and gums in a more effective way.

9.     Clean your tongue: While brushing, people almost forget about cleaning the tongue. Plague can also build upon your tongue. Along with a bad mouth odor, it can produce bacteria in your mouth which can lead to decaying of your teeth or other oral problems. So, it is important to clean your tongue with a brush with gentle pressure every day.

10.  Visit your dentist regularly: The tips above can help you in protecting your teeth from decaying, but it is important to visit your dentist twice a year. Many patients are opting to go with a cosmetic dentist even if they don’t yet have cosmetic issues, but even if you don’t have any oral hygiene issues, you should see your dentist just for cleaning or a regular checkup. They might be able to spot if there is any potential oral health issue or not. There are many dentists who recommend professional cleaning of your teeth every six months.  

Vitamin D, brushing, flossing and other home remedies might not help in treating the existing cavity on their own. But these above methods will prevent new ones from coming. Your smile won’t stay healthy until you practice good oral hygiene. Take care of your teeth just like you take care of your body. Visit your doctor, brush, and floss daily and protect your pearly white from staining.