Your Dentist Will be Impressed

Nearly everyone can probably say that their dentist has told them they need to do something to improve their oral health at one point or another, but how many people actually follow those directions?

Nobody knows more than a dentist when it comes to what we should do to keep our teeth healthy, so why do so many of us ignore his or her advice. Then, at the same time, why are we so surprised or disappointed when we find out we have a cavity during our visit?

For anyone who has ever had a cavity filled, they surely know that it is not a fun or enjoyable process. For those who have never had the pleasure, so to speak, it is certainly something they can live without. So with that in mind, it should be important to do the things we can to prevent cavities from occurring in our mouths.

The most basic way to prevent getting cavities is to simply practice good basic oral hygiene. This means brushing well and often and making sure every tooth and every surface is covered. It also means flossing regularly to ensure that the areas in between teeth are cleaned. The combination of these two actions can rid your mouth of a large percentage of the bacteria and other harmful materials that can cause cavities.

Watching what and when you eat is also beneficial. Foods that have lots of sugar can eat away at the enamel on your teeth and facilitate them being compromised by bacteria and other harmful material. Similarly, carbohydrates can have a similar affect.

When food is eaten also plays a significant role. While people are often told that eating many smaller meals rather than fewer large ones is the key to losing weight, the opposite is beneficial when it comes to preserving your teeth. The more often we eat, the more harmful substances we subject our teeth to, and the less time we allow our mouth to eradicate the harmful bacteria left by the last meal.

Eating most of our food less often lessens the impact it can have on a tooth over the course of time and also allows saliva in the mouth more time to wash away the materials that can lead to cavities.

Of course, one of the best things anyone can do to help prevent a cavity is to maintain a regular schedule of visits to the dentist. While practicing good oral hygiene on your own is a great start, professional cleanings and observation by the dentist make sure things are in as good a shape as they can be.

Beyond that, a dentist can also tell you if there are specific things you should be doing to ensure that your individual needs are met when it comes to preventing a cavity. Starting with these basic steps can only help to make sure you are in a position to avoid having one altogether.