Keeping your teeth cavity free is a challenge, but certainly not impossible. When it comes down to it, your teeth are incredibly vulnerable and only a thin layer of enamel protects them. Overtime, your enamel can wear away – eventually tooth decay can occur. Tooth decay occurs when the germs that are feasting on sugar release chemicals that seep into your teeth. Eventually, the cavity will become painful. The worst part is that it burrows deeper and deeper into the tooth – wreaking havoc all along the way. The last thing you want is for the decay to reach the nerve, which can be incredibly painful. Here are five helpful tips for keeping your teeth cavity free.
- Brush everyday and after meals. Of course, it is critical to brush your teeth every single day – twice a day. In fact, if you just had a big meal – particularly a big sugary meal – you want to brush your teeth right away. When it comes down to it, the germs and bacteria that cause cavities can start to cause problems only twenty minutes after you eat, so you want to be proactive.
- Get into the habit of flossing. It is also imperative to get into the habit of flossing your teeth. Flossing may not seem fun, but it is important that you find a way to tolerate it. When you brush your teeth, there is no way to get between the teeth. With floss, you can get deep between the teeth to remove plaque and tartar. Plaque and tartar can be a big problem, because they can literally calcify on your teeth and cause deep decay.
- Visit a dentist on a yearly basis. On top of brushing and flossing, you also want to visit a dentist on a bi-annual basis. A dental clinic, like Embassy Dental, will be able to professionally clean your teeth. Not only will they use dental tools to clean your teeth, they will also remove plaque and tartar, which is nearly impossible to remove on your own, especially if it has become calcified. Moreover, a dentist will be able to detect cavities before they become cavities and nip them in the bud.
- Stay away from hard sugary foods. It is also important to stay away from very hard sugary foods. Oftentimes, the harder a sugary food is and the more frequently you consume the food, the chances of cavity development are incredibly high. These foods include anything that you have to bite down on. Moreover, you want to stay away from sugary soft drinks, which can cause extreme staining and enamel breakdown.
- Don’t grind your teeth. Bruxism or teeth grinding is another big problem, because that can also wear down your enamel. If you have nighttime teeth grinding, you want to wear a mouth guard to protect your teeth and to train yourself to stop grinding. Moreover, you also want to learn to relax your body before you go to sleep, which means no caffeine or stimulating substances. In the end, you don’t want to take your anxiety out on your teeth.