Tooth decay can impact smiles of all ages, from children to adults. However, no one is destined to develop cavities. There are steps you can take to significantly reduce your risk of developing cavities. Avoiding tooth decay can ensure your smile feels comfortable and reduce the chances of infections or abscesses developing.
5 Steps to Help Avoid Tooth Decay
- Brush your teeth correctly: You should always use a toothbrush with soft bristles, as ones with medium or hard bristles can actually damage enamel. You should brush your teeth twice a day, once in the morning and again before going to bed. The entire process should never take less than two minutes to ensure you’ve properly cleaned your teeth.
- Always floss: While brushing your teeth can remove food particles and lessen the severity of plaque buildup, flossing is the only way to remove the bits of food caught between the teeth. You should floss your teeth every night before you go to bed.
- Cut back on sugary drinks: Sugary drinks, such as soda or energy drinks, can coat the teeth in sugar. Bacteria then break down the particles, increasing oral acidity and coating the teeth in plaque in the process. Instead, we suggest drinking more water. In addition, sports drinks, which many people assume are harmless, are also very acidic and can damage your teeth, making decay more likely.
- Watch what you eat: You should each plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. In addition to being healthy, they contain little sugar and some (such as apples, carrots, or broccoli) can help remove plaque from the teeth when you eat them.
- Have your teeth professionally cleaned: A professional cleaning is the only way to completely remove plaque from the teeth. You should have your teeth cleaned twice a year.
