Dentists recommend brushing at least three times a day. It is especially important to brush after eating and before going to bed. Flossing at least once a day is important to remove plaque that accumulates in the hard-to-reach spaces between your teeth. You should brush with a soft bristled toothbrush. Angle the bristles about 45 degrees toward the gum-line. Brush for about 3 minutes. You should also visit your dentist at least twice a year for examinations and professional cleanings.
Another good way to prevent cavities is by reducing the amount and frequency of sugary foods you consume. In addition, use toothpaste and mouth rinse (not mouthwash -- most simply cover bad breath and may actually contain sweeteners) that contain fluoride. Fluoride is a mineral found naturally in all water sources. It re-mineralizes the enamel surface where acid has begun to eat it away. As a result, it can not only reduce the number of cavities, but it can also help to repair the early stages of tooth decay, even before it becomes visible to a dentist. In short, it creates a tooth surface that's resistant to further decay.
For the last fifty or so years, many communities have also added fluoride to their drinking water. Mass water fluoridation is one of the most cost-effective measure available to reduce the incidence of tooth decay. The @Environmental @Protection @Agency has determined that the acceptable tap water concentration for fluoride is 0.7 to 1.2 parts per million. Much higher levels are not valuable, as they have been associated with chalky white discolorations of the teeth known as fluorosis.
If you live in an area that does not have fluoride, or you are very susceptible to cavities, your dentist can use high concentration, in-office fluoride treatments and prescribe a fluoride supplement. Supplements are available as gels, tablets, or drops. In some cases, customized trays can be used while you sleep to deliver higher doses of fluoride and help strengthen your teeth.
Sealants can also help reduce cavities on the top and sides of the back teeth. Sealants are formed of a white resin material that blankets the tooth, protecting the vulnerable pits and fissures. They are often used on children's teeth to prevent cavities on their newly developing molars, and they can serve as another cost-effective way to reduce the incidence of cavities on adults, as well. They are generally not used on teeth that already have fillings.
There is one other way to help prevent cavities. Dry mouth (also known as @xerostomia) is a condition where you don't produce enough saliva. It not only leaves a dry, sticky feeling in your mouth and on your tongue, but it can lead to tooth decay. Saliva serves two purposes. First, it helps to digest food. And second, it helps to prevent tooth decay and infection by destroying bacteria and fungi in the mouth. Sometimes dry mouth can be caused by medications. In those cases, doctors try to adjust the dose. Artificial saliva (kind of like eye drops, only for the mouth) may also be useful. And dentists recommend that you keep your mouth moist by sipping water throughout the day, and by avoiding spicy and salty foods and caffeine, which has a drying effect.
Left untreated, simple tooth decay and cavities can become more serious, leading to infections in the pulp that lies beneath the tooth surface and sometimes causing a painful pocket of pus, also known as an abscess, to develop. When it reaches this stage, the decay is referred to as periodontal disease, or simply gum disease, and it is the primary cause of tooth loss in adults over 35. Such decay attacks not only the gums, but also the bone and other tooth-supporting structures.
The earliest stage of periodontal disease is called gingivitis, and since many people don't experience any significant pain or discomfort at this stage, if you don't see your dentist regularly you may have the disease for years before getting the proper. The lack of any warning pain makes it especially important to brush and floss every day and to look for other signs of its progression. These include tender, swollen gums, or gums that bleed, particularly when you brush or floss your teeth; gums that turn a dark reddish color, a receding gum line, pain when you chew, tartar buildup on the tooth surface, and overly sensitive teeth. If you experience any of these, you should see a dentist as soon as possible.
If the gingivitis remains untreated, the infection can spread from the gums into the ligaments and bone that support the teeth. This may cause the teeth to become loose and eventually to fall out, a condition known as periodontitis.
Dentists diagnose gum disease with a combination of an oral examination and dental X-rays. In the examination, they will use a probe to measure the space between the teeth and the gums. In a normal mouth, a V-shaped groove runs between the two, measuring at most three millimeters deep, but if pockets form, the probe will push deeper into the gum tissue, and how deep it goes is a good indicator of how far the infection has progressed. They will then use the X-rays to determine if any of the underlying bone has been lost.
The good news is that you can prevent most cases of gum disease simply by brushing and flossing properly every day.
