5 Ways to Prevent Cavities

Cavities, although most common in children due to them often not being able to commit to a strict oral hygiene schedule, can happen to anyone, regardless of age. Particularly when we eat sugary foods, the acids produced from those foods erode away at the tooth’s hard surface. But there are ways to prevent cavities while still enjoying our favorite snacks. Take a look at the list below.

Drink Sugary Drinks Through a Straw

If soda isn’t something you can completely eliminate from your diet, you can reduce the effect it has on your teeth by drinking it with a straw. Using a straw minimizes the contact that the soda has with your teeth.

Visit the Dentist Regularly

Visiting the dentist for your bi-yearly teeth cleaning removes plaque build up that has formed on your teeth, and can inform you of teeth to keep a close eye on. A warning sign of a cavity is a white spot which is much easier to view from a dentist’s perspective and trained eye. They can then give you helpful tips in order to prevent it from turning into a cavity and do preventive care on it as well.

Eat More Fibrous Foods

Foods like apples, carrots, and celery can actually help clean your mouth. The texture of these different foods can wipe away bacteria from the surface of your teeth, preventing it from spreading and turning into something far less easy to clean off. 

Drink More Water

Water acts as a nourishing mouthwash, washing away bacteria and foot particles after a meal that get stuck in between the teeth. Tooth decay also occurs much more frequently in a dry mouth, so drinking water can combat this and hydrate you.

Brush and Floss After Every Meal

The best way to clear your teeth of harmful bacteria and tooth particles is to brush your teeth. The most effective way would be to do so as soon as you finish eating, but if that’s not possible, drink water, or brush your teeth as soon as you’re able to. Dentists recommend twice a day at a minimum.

If you have any concerns about how to take care of your teeth, do not hesitate to contact your dentist today.