Cavity Prevention

Your teeth are meant to last you a lifetime, but they will only last as long as you take proper care of them. Cavity prevention is the only surefire way to give your smile a chance at longevity. Benjamin Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” and when it comes to keeping your mouth healthy cavity prevention is essential. The most important thing to understand about cavity prevention is that it rests entirely on your shoulders. You must understand the importance of good habits and routine care and how they relate to the health of your mouth.

There are millions of bacteria that call your mouth home. While that sounds scary and disgusting, these bacteria are actually inside the mouth as helpful agents. After you eat and drink foods and beverages, there are food particles and sugars left behind inside the mouth. The natural occurring bacteria are there inside the mouth to help break these particles down so that they are easily flushed from the mouth. While these bacteria mean to be helpful, when they are allowed to linger inside the mouth for an extended period of time, their help turns to harm.

As bacteria continue to work hard to break down foods and sugars, they begin to produce acids to help in their endeavors. All types of acids eat through hard surfaces, leaving destruction behind. The acids from bacteria will begin to eat through the tooth enamel once they have easily disposed of the foods and sugars inside the mouth. This is where cavity prevention comes in and plays a huge role. Brushing and flossing the teeth on a daily basis are essential in cavity prevention. Brushing the teeth removes bacteria-laden plaque from the surfaces of the teeth, and flossing removes plaque from the tight spaces between the teeth where toothbrush bristles cannot reach. If either of the oral health care habits are ignored, the acids from the bacteria within your mouth will quickly begin doing damage to your teeth. Once the acids eat a hole in your tooth enamel, a cavity has been formed and must be treated in order to halt any further progression.

At Pristine Dental, we want to partner with you in cavity prevention. Not only are brushing and flossing imperative to keeping your mouth healthy, but so is visiting the dentist regularly for cleanings and checkups. Please contact our dental practice today to schedule an appointment. We look forward to helping you and your family achieve and maintain a healthy smile for life.