How to prevent tooth decay: 10 steps

2023 Author: Sybil Carroll | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 06:08

When you consume sugary or starchy foods and drinks, the bacteria in your mouth digest the food and turn it into acid. This becomes a plaque on top of your teeth and later makes holes in the enamel: these holes are known as cavities. Reduce the amount of soda, candy, and junk food you consume so your teeth are sugar-free. Get plenty of vitamins and mineral-rich foods. Brush and floss regularly and visit your dentist for a checkup for extra help.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Maintain Good Oral Hygiene

Step 1. Brush your teeth after every meal

Brush your teeth well after every meal. If you can't handle that, brush at least twice a day. Brush your teeth for at least two minutes at a time. Play a song that lasts two minutes, set an alarm, and watch the clock while you brush.

Put a small amount of toothpaste on your toothbrush. Rinse off with water when you're done.
Brush each part of your teeth at a time. Brush the front and back of each tooth, as well as the top. Brush next to the gums and also your tongue.
Use small circular or side-to-side motions.
Brush really well but don't press your brush. You could injure your gums.
Don't brush too hard! Brushing more than three times a day can damage your enamel, making you more prone to cavities.

Step 2. Get the correct toothbrush and toothpaste

Look for a battery-powered brush with a round head that moves up and down and in circles. If you don't like electric toothbrushes, choose a soft bristle brush with a small head. If the brush head is 0.5 inches (1.27 cm) wide and 1 inch (2.54 cm) long, you will be able to reach the corners of your mouth.

Replace your brush every three to four months or when it is worn out.
Take your toothbrush with you, or keep an extra toothbrush on your desk at work or in your locker at school. Also take a travel toothpaste.
Brush your teeth with a toothpaste that contains fluoride (a mineral that fortifies the enamel) and this will make your teeth more resistant to the attacks of bacterial plaque.
Children's toothpaste should not have as much fluoride as adult toothpaste. Check with your dentist if you want to give your children fluoride products.

Step 3. Floss

Flossing will remove the bacteria that are in the hard-to-reach places between your teeth. Roll 18 inches (45 cm) of floss between your middle fingers, leaving 1 or 2 inches (2.55 or 5.08 cm) to use, and thus keep it taut between your thumb and index finger. Gently slide it up and down between your teeth. Angle the floss on your teeth, slightly below your gums.

Floss at least daily (after meals that contain stringy, thick, or sticky products).
Use dental floss to prevent heart disease, gingivitis, and cavities.

Step 4. Rinse with a mouthwash

Rinse with a fluoride-containing mouthwash for 10-15 seconds. You can do it after brushing. Choose a mouthwash that has fluoride but no alcohol and has been approved by the American Dental Association or an equivalent institution in your country.

Don't replace brushing and flossing with mouthwash. It is a supplement, not a replacement

Step 5. Visit your dentist regularly

Your dentist will be able to advise you on best hygiene practices, how to attack cavities before they cause pain, and how to help you take further action if you are prone to cavities. If you have some problems with your teeth, visit your dentist once a year. If you are a young person with very good teeth, you should probably visit your dentist once every 18 months to two years. However, if you feel any pain, changes or unusual smells in your mouth, you should go directly to the dentist.

Children's teeth can decay faster than adult teeth, so take your child to the dentist every six months to a year.
Ask your dentist about supplemental fluoride. This may be helpful if your teeth are weak or if the water in your area is devoid of fluoride.
Ask him about dental sealants. If you are prone to cavities, you can protect your molars with a protective layer of plastic. They last up to 10 years.

Part 2 of 2: Eating to Protect Your Teeth

Step 1. Cut down on sweets

Reduce the consumption of sugars. Avoid sodas, sweets, and carbohydrates. You should avoid junk food, which is high in carbohydrates and added sugars. Save chips, candy, cakes, cookies, and white bread for special occasions. The sugar on your teeth will attract bacteria, causing a build-up of plaque and cavities.

If you eat sugar, brush your teeth immediately afterwards.
If you eat candy and other sweets, choose the ones that stay in your mouth for the shortest time. Sucking on a lollipop exposes your teeth to sugar for a longer time than eating a piece of chocolate.

Step 2. Drink cavities-fighting drinks

Drink water and rinse with water after eating as well, especially if it will be before you can brush. Drink water frequently as this will clean your teeth and, in many cases, fortify them with fluoride. In many areas, fluoride is added to public water supplies. Check to see if the water in your area has fluoride, and if not, consider supplementing it.

Drink green and black tea instead of coffee. It is less acidic and can fight plaque.
Rinse or brush after drinking alcohol (alcohol has a lot of sugar).
Eliminate soda from your diet completely if possible. Sodas quickly dissolve the enamel on your teeth and are of no benefit to any other part of your body.
Drink through a straw to reduce damage to your teeth. A straw won't completely protect your teeth from sugar exposure, but it will help a little.

Step 3. Eat foods that contain vitamins and minerals

Calcium is great for your teeth, so eat dairy products, soy-fortified products, almonds, and dark green leafy vegetables. Vitamin D is also desirable and can be found in sunlight, dairy products, and fatty fish like salmon. Meat, fish, and eggs will give you phosphorus; while whole grains, spinach, and bananas will give you magnesium. For vitamin A, eat orange vegetables and fruits, as well as dark leafy greens.

Step 4. Eat crisp vegetables and fruits

Raw foods are especially rich in vitamins and minerals. Eating crunchy vegetables, like carrots or celery, can help you really clean your teeth. The fiber of a crunchy plant acts as a mild abrasive. When people say that "eating an apple daily helps people to be healthy" it is because biting into a crunchy vegetable or apple stimulates your mouth to produce more saliva, which will restore the pH balance in your mouth, thus avoiding the license plate.

Step 5. Chew sugarless gum

While regular gum contains sugar that causes cavities, sugar-free gum contains xylitol which helps fight plaque. Xylitol fights bacteria, and thus chewing gum can stimulate the production of saliva that will help clean your teeth. If you won't be able to brush your teeth right away, try chewing sugar-free gum after a meal.