Sugars. Starches. Poor oral care routines. Oral bacteria loves when patients have all of these factors in their lives so they can spread decay. Decay leads to cavities which give them a place to harbor inside your mouth. This not only puts your oral health at risk, but your overall wellness at risk as well.
The good news is preventing tooth decay doesn’t have to be a hard-fought battle. Today, your dentist in Waverly explains how decay forms and how to stop it in its tracks.
How Tooth Decay Develops
So what is the number one cause of tooth decay? According to your dentist, tooth decay begins developing every time you consume either sugar or starch. That means many of the foods you may eat on a daily basis can be digested by the millions of bacteria in your mouth at any given time. While good and bad bacteria exist in the mouth, the bad bacteria will begin feasting on the sugars and starches you consume.
Technically, bacteria itself doesn’t cause tooth decay. In fact, it’s the acids they produce. This acid lowers the pH balance in your mouth, making it more acidic. The more acidic your mouth is, the more likely tooth will decay.
The Dangers of Tooth Decay
When daily oral care isn’t practiced, tooth decay can eventually turn into cavities that worsen over time. Cavities need to be treated with dental fillings to restore your teeth’s functionality and protect them from bacteria. If enough damage occurs, a dental crown may be needed to cover the entire tooth. In severe cases, an infection can develop when decay spreads to the center of the tooth where the pulp is, causing the need for a root canal.
In addition to high costs on dental bills, patients with untreated tooth decay will likely experience:
- Pain
- Swelling or pus around the tooth
- Abscesses
- Chewing problems
- Shifting teeth if decayed teeth fall out
- A less than desirable appearance
Some patients may be more susceptible to tooth decay than others, so it’s important to ask your dentist the best way to protect yourself. Luckily, the following tips recommended by the ADA are usually enough to prevent tooth decay.
How to Prevent Tooth Decay
With a dedicated oral care routine at home and bi-annual visits to your dentist in Waverly, you can stop tooth decay in its tracks. Keep the following habits in mind:
- Brush twice a day with a fluoridated toothpaste for at least two minutes at a time.
- Floss daily to remove food particles and plaque from the sides of teeth.
- Visit your dentist every six months for a thorough cleaning and examination.
- Keep a balanced diet. Crunchy foods high in water content are great for saliva production, which is necessary to clean the mouth in between oral care.
- Use a mouthwash daily for additional protection and a more thorough cleaning.
Tooth decay doesn’t stand a chance when you dedicate just a few minutes a day to good oral hygiene. To see if your oral health is in good shape, schedule an appointment with your dentist serving in Lincoln today!
About the Author
Dr. Timothy Vacek earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Nebraska Medical College of Dentistry. If you want to keep your teeth for life, you can expect his expertise and dental knowledge to protect your teeth. To learn more about his preventive treatments or practice, contact him through his website.