3 Tips for Preventing Tooth Decay

Tooth Decay is a common health problem that many people will experience throughout their lives. Being informed about how to properly take care of your mouth is the best prevention for Tooth Decay. Tooth Decay is caused by the build-up of bad bacteria, germs and plaque around our teeth and gums. If this bacteria and plaque is not removed from the mouth it can eat through the tooth enamel, causing it to deteriorate and be prone to tooth decay and gum disease.

Consistently Brush and Floss your Teeth

The simplest, yet most effective way of preventing tooth decay is to maintain a regular schedule of brushing and flossing your teeth. Professionals recommend that you brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once. Ensure that your brushing is efficient by replacing your toothbrush every three months, or earlier if needed. Bad Bacteria that causes Tooth Decay is not only found on and between our teeth, but at the base of our teeth, sitting on our gums. When brushing your teeth is it important that you also brush your gums, to remove all food particles and plaque that could potentially cause Tooth Decay.

Eat Foods that Promote Healthy Teeth and Avoid Foods that Don’t

Many foods can contribute greatly to Tooth Decay. Sugary foods and drinks create a sticky coating on the teeth, which provides the perfect breeding ground for plaque and bacteria. Acidic foods attack the protective enamel coating of our teeth, slowly weakening it and eventually causing it to deteriorate, leaving our teeth unguarded from bad bacteria and plaque. Foods that promote healthy teeth and help to eliminate tooth decay include Swiss cheese and those containing protein, such as fish. Eating good foods helps to eliminate the negative effect that bad foods have on our dental hygiene.

Pay Attention to your Whole Mouth

When going through your daily routine of cleaning your teeth, it can be easy to become lazy or forgetful – this is when you start to neglect certain areas of your mouth. To maintain good oral hygiene and ensure that all of your teeth are protected from tooth decay, make sure that you are paying attention to your whole mouth. When flossing, it is easy to neglect your back teeth, as they are harder to reach and can be more difficult to floss. It is important to remember that our back teeth are specifically designed for chewing, being larger and having a special shape – this means that they generally have the most contact with food. Our back teeth have the most contact with food and so it is vitally important that we pay them just as much attention as our front teeth, to ensure that we remove all food particles and maintain cleanliness. Tooth Decay can be a serious health issue as it can attack the entire structure of the tooth, from the protective outer enamel to the inner layers of the tooth. It is important to remember these tips to help prevent tooth decay in your mouth.

Juilia is an award winning dental hygienist from Brisbane, Australia. She says that tooth decay has been a mojor problem recently and attributes this mainly to poor diet. Outside of work, Julia likes to go shopping with her friends, ride horses and relax at the beach.