Visiting the dentist can be a scary and overwhelming experience for both children and adults, especially when hearing these four dreadful words, “You have a cavity.” Cavities, also known as tooth decay, are caused when plaque has built up so heavily that it begins eating away at the enamel. Although most commonly found in people from six to 19 years of age, tooth decay can develop in people of all ages. If untreated, tooth decay can lead to more severe issues, such as gingivitis, periodontitis, and tooth loss.
Do you have a toothache from possible tooth decay? Call our Docklands dental office today at (03) 9021-9487 to schedule an appointment with one of our doctors.
How Do You Prevent Tooth Decay?
The best way to prevent tooth decay is by brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing at least once a day, and visiting a dentist for routine checkups every six month, or as advised. However, avoiding certain foods and maintaining a healthy diet can also help. Outlined below are four foods you can limit or avoid altogether to deter tooth decay:
- Hard Candy
Chewing on mints, cough drops, or hard candies has the tendency to cause a couple of different concerns. First, the candies can get stuck in your teeth, exposing your teeth to large amounts of sugar for long periods of time. Second, continually crunching on hard candy can weaken enamel, putting you at a higher risk for a cracked or chipped tooth. For fresh breath, we recommend chewing sugarless gum.
- Sticky, Starchy and Sugary Foods
Bread, chocolate, pasta, crackers, and dried fruit can cause just as much harm as hard candy. Although healthy, dried fruit is sticky and has a tendency to get stuck in your teeth. It also contains fructose, a type of sugar. Foods high in starch and carbohydrates turn into simple sugars. When these types of foods stay on your teeth, oral bacteria will begin to feed on the sugar. The bacteria produce a byproduct of acid that will destroy at tooth enamel. After enjoying sugary treats, it’s best to immediately brush your teeth or rinse your mouth with water.
- Ice
Chewing on ice weakens tooth enamel, which can lead to decay. It can also cause a chipped, cracked, or broken tooth or damage a dental crown. If you have a tendency to habitually chew ice, try to enjoy your beverages chilled, without any ice.
- Sodas and Fruit Juices
Sodas and fruit juices are high in acid and also contain sugars. When left on the teeth for long periods of time, they will begin to weaken the enamel. If you drink a soda or fruit juice, use a straw and follow up by rinsing your mouth with a glass of water to rinse your mouth of sugars and acids so that a healthy pH is re-established.
Schedule Your Checkup Today
For more information on ways to prevent and treat tooth decay, give us a call at our Docklands dental office today at (03) 9021-9487 to schedule a dental exam and cleaning.