How To Protect Your Teeth From Cavities
Posted on: 21 January 2016
Getting a cavity can be a real hassle, since they can cause a great deal of discomfort and cost you a bit of money. Therefore, you are probably interested in ways to avoid getting cavities in the future. To help you out, here are some habits that you should consider incorporating into your daily routine:
Vigilant Brushing and Flossing
You probably already brush and floss at least once a day, but that isn't necessarily enough. However, brushing and flossing after every meal isn't always the right solution either.
It's much more important that you thoroughly clean your teeth, rather than cleaning them often. A single cleaning a day can be sufficient, if you are extremely thorough in your cleaning process. Several minutes of intensive scrubbing with a toothbrush can remove the vast majority of problematic material in your mouth.
When flossing, you want to be similarly intensive as well. Some gentle absent-minded flossing might make you feel like you are making progress, but it's a pointless exercise if you don't manage to actually get deep in the gaps between your teeth. When flossing, you want to remove absolutely every bit of foreign material in between your teeth.
You might have heard that before bed is the best time to clean your teeth, and there is some truth to that. When you go to sleep, your saliva production decreases, which ultimately makes it easier for bacteria to wear down your teeth. Your saliva plays a key role in fighting off harmful bacteria, so the less saliva in your mouth, the more damaging bacteria can be. By brushing and flossing before bed, you can minimize the amount of work that your saliva needs to do while you are asleep.
Increased Calcium Consumption
You should also make sure that you get enough calcium every day, since calcium plays a key role in keeping your bones and teeth healthy. Dairy is often the best source of calcium, but there are other options if you are lactose-intolerant or if you just don't like dairy. For instance, leafy greens can contain a great deal of calcium, so adding some kale and spinach to your meals could do wonders for your teeth.
If you tend to forget to eat calcium-rich foods or if you just really hate dairy and leafy greens, then supplemental pills can also help you out. However, you shouldn't rely entirely on such pills, since you will miss out on the wide variety of other benefits that are offered by leafy greens and dairy products.
Regular trips to the dentist will also help you catch any problems early. Visit a dentist like Northwest Dental Services at least twice a year.
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