The teeth, just like any other part of your body, requires care and attention to keep them in a healthy state. There are a lot of people who don’t like visiting the dentist. If you have cavities and want to prevent them on your own, you have come to the right place.
With excellent oral hygiene and some very simple and easy to adopt dietary changes, you can not only prevent cavities but also reverse tooth decay.
Dentists at Vitarelli Dental have created a list of natural ways you can use at home to prevent tooth decay and stop cavities.
Chew a Lot of Sugar-Free Gum
- Chewing gum is actually a very good way to help prevent tooth decay as long as the gum is sugar-free. Most sugar-free gums contain something called xylitol, a component that acts as a natural sweetener.
Xylitol, unlike other food, does not create bacteria inside the mouth. Moreover, when you chew on the gum, your mouth creates extra saliva that washes away the bacteria and food particles making sure your mouth is clean.
Make Simple Dietary Changes
- Switching to a healthy diet has more benefits than just helping you lose weight. What you eat can change your health for the better no matter what your goals are. Research suggests that changing your diet can help reverse tooth decay.
Since sugar and acidic food can lead to tooth decay, if you stop eating sugar-rich foods and beverages that have high acid, you may never face problems like tooth decay and cavities.
- Your diet should be rich in calcium because it is the main building blocks of your bones and teeth. To get more calcium, eat and drink dairy products such as cheese, yogurt, milk, butter, and sour cream.
Always drink beverages unsweetened. Avoid sugar-rich beverages like fizzy drinks, soda, and juices. You can instead aim for fruit smoothies, unsweetened coffee and tea, and water. Speaking of water, drink a lot of it to keep your body well hydrated which triggers better saliva production in the mouth.
Never Stop Basic Dental Care
- You must be very familiar with this – regular dental care keeps your oral health in check and stops your tooth enamel from decaying. If you want to protect your teeth from harmful conditions, follow this pre-cavity oral care routine.
Brush your teeth daily for at least two minutes, twice a day. Make sure to brush every surface of your teeth never ignoring the farthest parts of the mouth.
- Floss your teeth at least once a day. Flossing is important because there are gaps in the teeth where a toothbrush can never reach. Floss can help pull out food particles from these gaps and prevent germs from growing.
Use a mouth wash and fluoride toothpaste. Mouthwash has antibacterial attributes that help you get rid of excessive bacteria in the mouth. Avoid mixing the mouthwash with water to get better results.
Change Toothbrush After 2-3 Months
- A lot of people ignore this fact. A toothbrush, no matter how good it is, lasts for about 3 months before it needs changing. The bristles on the toothbrush can become harsh after continuous use which can lead to gum bleeding and other oral problems.
Picking the right toothbrush is also very important. Here are some tips.
- Make sure to always purchase a medium-sized brush and make sure the bristles are soft and can easily reach the farthest corners of your mouth.
Never cover your toothbrush with a cover. It may seem that a cover protects your toothbrush but in reality, they harbor microorganisms and bacteria that can easily rest on the bristles and enter your mouth when you brush. Instead, just wash your brush properly before each use and let it rest in the open air.
- Change the toothbrush after 3 months because the bristles can easily deteriorate with regular usage and the toothbrush becomes ineffective.
Get Regular Dental Cleanings
- While brushing and flossing are good for cleaning your teeth, you will need to visit a dentist every six months to get them professionally cleaned. You may not like visiting the dentist but if you just go for regular dental checkups and cleanings, it will prevent oral problems that need scary procedures to bring your teeth back to normal.
A dentist cleans near the gum line on the front and back of your teeth making sure all the plaque is properly removed from these areas. Regular cleaning is important to reverse cavities and keep your oral health in check.
Regular cleanings are very simple and there is no pain or scary procedures involved. Book your appointment today with Viterrali Dental and let us clean your teeth to prevent future dental cavities.