Cavities affect a majority of dental patients at some point in their lives, and dentists can treat these holes in the dental structure with a filling. This early stage of tooth decay forms when bacteria penetrate weak spots in your teeth to eat away at the enamel.
A dentist can get rid of a cavity for you, but ideally, you should preserve as much of your natural dental structure as possible by stopping decay before it becomes a cavity. Your dentist can provide effective preventative care in their efforts, but your at-home efforts will majorly protect your smile too. Read on to learn three ways you can stop cavity formation in its early stages from your own home.
At-Home Methods of Fighting Tooth Decay
Avoid Acidic Foods and Drinks
A major cause of tooth decay comes from a patient’s diet. Acidic foods and drinks will erode tooth enamel as you consume more of them over time, creating weak areas in the tooth that bacteria can then infiltrate.
You cannot restore lost enamel once it is gone. But to stop dental erosion from worsening, you will need to pay attention to your diet and steer clear of these acidic items that can hurt your teeth further. Watch out for citrus fruits and juices for example.
Sugar becomes acidic when it reacts with your saliva, so you should avoid sugary foods and beverages for similar reasons. Check the ingredients of the foods you eat to ensure you are not consuming added sugar unknowingly.
Practice Good Oral Hygiene
Proper at-home dental care comes primarily in the form of oral hygiene. This routine will scrub away plaque, excess bacteria, and other harmful build-ups on your teeth. Then these residues will not linger on your smile, eating away at your enamel and creating irreversible dental damage.
Make sure you brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss on a daily basis to get the most out of this teeth-cleaning regimen. Plaque cannot heighten your risk for cavities if it is no longer on your smile. Good oral hygiene comes from regular dentist appointments too, but you should also prioritize this maintenance at home.
Consider Fluoride Products
While you cannot regenerate lost enamel, you can strengthen the remaining enamel so that it can better resist tooth decay and other dental dangers. A naturally occurring mineral called fluoride will absorb into the teeth to fortify them.
Fluoride can be found in many of the foods you eat regularly and famously in tap water. So drink plenty of this type of water to give your teeth a boost in fighting cavities.
Ask your dentist if you should use oral hygiene products like mouthwash or toothpaste that contain fluoride too. They may suggest a fluoride treatment in their office as well for optimal preventative dental care. Call your dentist today to learn more ways to protect your smile from tooth decay.