Brushing your teeth is something that you do every day. If it isn’t, it should be! It’s something that, hopefully, you don’t think twice about. But, the importance of brushing your teeth cannot be overstated—it’s one of our most important tactics in the war against cavities and tooth decay. Cavities are the enemy, they are painful, they are annoying, they cause greater problems if left unchecked, and they are something that maybe we don’t know as much about as we think we do.
What are some things to know about cavities?
- Tooth decay comes in as the second most common of all diseases in the United States, behind only the common cold in its commonality.
- If left unchecked, though rare, tooth decay and cavities can cause severe harm to the general health of the sufferer—in extreme cases, even death.
- One of the biggest factors in the formation of tooth decay is bacteria. Acid-producing bacteria eat away at the enamel of your teeth in unison with a diet rich in sugars and carbohydrates and a genetic susceptibility to decay leads to exasperated tooth decay spreading through your teeth.
- Greater than one-fourth of American children and over 90 percent of adults are affected by tooth decay.
- Once a cavity has done damage to your teeth, the only way to fix the tooth is through dental work—your enamel, unfortunately, does not grow back.
Do these things to make sure you do to avoid tooth decay.
- Brush your teeth after every meal, including healthy meals! If you absolutely can’t brush, rinsing your mouth out with purified water is a good half-measure.
- Have regular dental check-ups and cleanings.
- If there is discoloration or pain in a tooth, see a dentist as soon as possible. You will want to make sure it stays constrained to the single tooth.
- Flossing. Do it! Flossing is an incredibly important aspect of maintaining your oral health, yet it’s something that many people skip.
- Try to limit sugar intake to less than 50 grams per day, that’s about ten teaspoons or around one and a half cans of soda.
Come to Valley Dental to improve and preserve a healthy smile!
The importance of seeing a dentist regularly cannot be overstated. If it’s been a while since you last sat down in a dental chair, it’s about time you made the call at (315) 698-6880 to schedule a visit!