According to the CDC, tooth decay is “the most common chronic disease of children aged 6 to 11 years and adolescents aged 12 to 19 years. Tooth decay is four times more common than asthma among adolescents aged 14 to 17 years. Tooth decay also affects adults, with 9 out of 10 over the age of 20 having some degree of tooth-root decay” However, tooth decay is completely preventable. To help you prevent cavities we have put together a list of tips to keep you cavity free!
Brush Your Teeth: It is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes. For optimum cavity protection, we recommend you brush them in the morning, after lunch, and before bed. Brushing your teeth removes food, bacteria, and plaque from your teeth. If your teeth go unbrushed all of the substances left on your teeth will begin to cause tooth decay and cavities.
Floss: It’s also recommended to floss your teeth at least once a day. Flossing helps remove food, bacteria, and plaque from in between your teeth where your toothbrush will not reach. For optimum cavity prevention floss once in the morning and once at night.
Use a Fluoride Rinse: Rinsing out your mouth with a fluoride rinse after you have brushed and flossed will help remove any remaining food and bacteria. The fluoride in the rinse will help remineralize your teeth from any early signs of decay and keep them strong! We recommend that you use a fluoride rinse once a day. Also, remember not to rinse your mouth with water after using your fluoride rinse. The water will wash away the fluoride from your teeth.
Regular Dental Visits: Visiting your dentist on a regular basis is a very important step for cavity prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. It is recommended to visit your dentist every 6 months. However, some people's needs may dictate more frequent visits. Regular dentist visits commonly consist of x-rays, exam, and cleaning. For more information on your regular dental appointment read our blog post about it.
We hope these tips help you with your oral health regimen and prevention of cavities! If you have any questions or need to schedule an appointment give one of our offices a call today.