How to Prevent Tooth Decay

Preventing tooth decay comes down to the consistency of cleaning your teeth properly each day. While there are some genetic factors that may make your teeth more susceptible to developing cavities, if you are thoroughly removing the plaque and bacteria that surround your teeth each and every day, cavities won’t have a chance to get started.

Brushing

Brushing your teeth in the morning and before bed for at least two minutes is essential to keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Other recommendations to keep in mind while you brush your teeth are:

• Position of the toothbrush: Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gums. This allows the bristles to reach both the teeth and the gumline.
• Gentle, circular motion: Using a gentle and circular motion, brush the outer surfaces of your teeth. Be sure to brush all the way to the back of your mouth.
• Clean the chewing surfaces: For the chewing surfaces of your teeth, use a back-and-forth motion to remove food particles and plaque.
• Brush the inner surfaces: Tilt the brush vertically and use the bristles to clean the inner surfaces of your teeth.
• Don’t forget the gumline: Pay special attention to the gumline, where plaque and bacteria can accumulate. Gently brush along the gumline to remove plaque and help prevent gum disease.
• Brush your tongue: Gently brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.

Flossing

For all the places that a toothbrush can’t get to properly, floss can. It is recommended to floss at least once a day to remove any plaque in between teeth and along the gumline as well as any food that could be lodged in between your teeth. Flossing is a key factor to preventing cavities.

A visit to your dentist

Seeing your dentist routinely will also protect your teeth from developing tooth decay. Your dentist can point out dips and curves in your teeth that may lead to cavities so you can be sure to clean those areas extra well. Your dentist will also remove any hardened plaque that has built up on your teeth that could lead to tooth decay. Regular trips to the dentist are essential in preventing cavities.

Other prevention tips

While brushing, flossing, and seeing your dentist regularly are the basic essentials of staving off cavity development, a few other ways to make sure your teeth stay healthy are:

• Using fluoride toothpaste: Fluoride strengthens the enamel of your teeth, making it more difficult for tooth decay to begin.
• Choose the right toothbrush: To ensure you get the proper cleaning, you should choose a toothbrush with soft bristles, comfortable handle, and that fits comfortably in your mouth.
• Brush your tongue: Not only does gently brushing your tongue freshen your breath, but it also removes bacteria from your mouth.

To keep cavities from developing, make an appointment with your dentist if you have not had an appointment in the last six months. If you live in St. Augustine, FL, give Dental Remedies a call today.