Prevention

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Tooth Decay Prevention

You can resist tooth decay by regularly taking action to slow acid production, remove plaque from your teeth and strengthen the tooth enamel. Here are some tips:

Limit the number of times you eat each day and reduce sugary and starchy foods.
Brush after meals to remove plaque, and floss at least once a day to get at the plaque trapped between teeth.
Use a fluoride toothpaste to strengthen tooth enamel.
When you can’t brush, rinse with water to help wash away food and bacteria.
Come and see us regularly for checkups and preventive care.

Brushing

Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small strip of fluoride toothpaste, unless the child is under the age of 3. If a child is younger than age 3, parents should clean their child’s teeth with water and a soft-bristled toothbrush. After age 3, parents should supervise brushing. Use no more than a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and make sure children do not swallow excess toothpaste.

When you brush your teeth, move the brush in small circular motions to reach food particles that may be under your gum line. Hold the toothbrush at an angle and brush slowly and carefully, covering all areas between teeth and the surface of each tooth. It will take you several minutes to thoroughly brush your teeth. Brush up on the lower teeth, down on the upper teeth and the outside, inside and chewing surface of all of your front and back teeth. Brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth before you rinse.

Brush your teeth four times daily to avoid the accumulation of food particles and plaque:

In the morning after breakfast
After lunch or right after school
After dinner
At bedtime
As soon as the bristles start to wear down or fray, replace your toothbrush with a new one. Do not swallow any toothpaste; rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after you finish brushing. It is important to carefully floss and brush daily for optimal oral hygiene.

Flossing

For areas between the teeth that a toothbrush can’t reach, dental floss is used to remove food particles and plaque. Dental floss is a thin thread of waxed nylon that is used to reach below the gum line and clean between teeth. It is very important to floss between your teeth every day.

Pull a small length of floss from the dispenser. Wrap the ends of the floss tightly around your middle fingers. Guide the floss between all teeth to the gum line, pulling out any food particles or plaque. Unwrap clean floss from around your fingers as you go, so that you have used the floss from beginning to end when you finish. Floss behind all of your back teeth.

Floss at night to make sure your teeth are squeaky clean before you go to bed. When you first begin flossing, your gums may bleed a little. If the bleeding does not go away after the first few times, let a staff member know at your next appointment.

Good Diet and Healthy Teeth
The teeth, bones and soft tissue of the mouth require a healthy, well-balanced diet. A variety of foods from the five food groups helps minimize (and avoid) cavities and other dental problems. Most snacks that children eat cause cavities, so children should only receive healthy foods like vegetables, low-fat yogurt and cheeses, which promote strong teeth.

Sealants

The grooves and depressions that form the chewing surfaces of the back teeth are extremely difficult (if not impossible) to clean of bacteria and food. As the bacteria reacts with the food, acids form and break down the tooth enamel, causing cavities. Recent studies indicate that 88 percent of total cavities in American school children are caused this way.

Tooth sealants protect these susceptible areas by sealing the grooves and depressions, preventing bacteria and food particles from residing in these areas. Sealant material is a resin typically applied to the back teeth, molars and premolars and areas prone to cavities. It lasts for several years but needs to be checked during regular appointments.

Fluoride

Another key to good oral health is fluoride, a mineral that helps prevent caries and repairs teeth in early stages of the disease.
Fluoride can be obtained in 2 forms topical and systemic

Topical fluorides are applied directly to the tooth enamel. Some examples include fluoride toothpastes and mouth rinses, as well as fluoride treatments in the dental office. Systemic fluorides are those that are swallowed. Examples include fluoridated water and dietary fluoride supplements. Dentists have used in-office fluorides treatments for decades to help protect oral health of children and adults. Some factors that may increase a person's risk of developing caries include the following:

  • Xerostomia (dry mouth)
  • Lack of regular professional dental care
  • Medications/medical conditions
  • Active orthodontic treatment
  • Poor oral hygiene
  • Exposed root surfaces of teeth
  • Active caries
  • Poor diet
  • Eating disorders
  • Tooth enamel defects
  • Drug or alcohol abuse
  • Radiation therapy

Depending on your oral health status, fluoride treatments may be recommended every three, six or 12 mouths. Your dentist also may recommend additional preventive measures if you are at a moderate or high risk of developing caries. These measures include prescription therapeutic products such as fluoride mouth rinses, fluoride toothpaste or antibacterial mouth rinses.