How to Effectively Prevent Cavities


How to Effectively Prevent Cavities

By Wright Smiles

Even if you’ve never had one, you might be familiar with cavities and the discomfort they can cause, especially if you’ve witnessed a friend or family member dealing with a troubled tooth. Most patients also recognize that eating too much sugar and not brushing your teeth will almost guarantee you one or more cavities in the future. The good news is that, despite their prevalence and the damage they can potentially cause (left untreated, the decay can cost you a tooth), cavities are highly avoidable with the right care and maintenance. To prevent cavities from forming and irreversibly damaging your teeth, your Southlake dentists, Dr. Wright and Dr. Heron, explain how to effectively control the forces that lead to cavity development in the first place.

The Source

Contrary to popular belief, sugar isn’t the main culprit in tooth decay and cavity formation. It is, however, a significant contributor, as well as starch and other carbohydrates. Certain bacteria found in dental plaque consume these nutrients and convert them into acids that attack your teeth, withering away the protective layer of enamel that surrounds them. In time, enamel will become too eroded to protect your teeth, and bacteria can infect their main structures, leading to tooth decay.

Quality Hygiene Time

It’s reasonable to wonder if eliminating harmful bacteria from your mouth completely wouldn’t secure your dental health in the future. However, your mouth contains over 600 identifiable kinds of bacteria, and many more that have yet to be classified, and all may be essential to maintaining the delicate ecology inside your mouth. Fortunately, you can still inhibit bacterial activity by brushing your teeth at least twice a day, and flossing at least once, to eliminate plaque and masses of bacteria that have accumulated on your teeth. For added protection, and to ensure that your hygiene routine is working, be sure to attend a dental checkup and cleaning at least once every six months, or more often if Dr. Wright and Dr. Heron advise it.

ABOUT YOUR SOUTHLAKE GENERAL DENTISTS:

As a native Texan, Dr. Gregory Wright opened his private practice in Southlake, TX in 1992. He and Dr. Victoria Heron are happily accepting new patients from Southlake, Grapevine, Keller, Trophy Club, Colleyville, and all surrounding communities. To learn more, call our office today at (817) 481-7999.