03 Mar What Can I do to Prevent Tooth Cavities?
It is estimated that one out of every four adults in the US has or has had tooth cavities in the recent past. However, this is mainly because many people are not really aware that tooth decay is a highly common disease, just like the common cold, that sets in whenever you neglect your oral health. Here’s what you can do to keep dental decay at bay, besides just regular brushing every morning.
1. Cut Back on Acidic, Sugary, and Alcoholic Drinks
Prolonged exposure to tea, acidic coffee, or alcoholic beverages is one of the major causes of tooth decay and cavities. This is then compounded by the fact that our fast-paced modern lifestyle has integrated these types of beverages deep into our socialization culture. So, it’s not uncommon that the average adult will take more than 10 cups of coffee, several pints of their favorite beer/cocktail, and a few glasses of highly sugary fruit juice all in just one week. Not only is this not very healthy for overall well-being but also quite detrimental to the long-term attractiveness of your teeth. Therefore, cutting back on these will do more for you than just preventing cavities.
2. Quit Smoking (especially chain-smoking)
Smoking and heavy tobacco use can aggravate a number of serious medical complications. In fact, smoking the number one leading cause of disability and disease among people over 50. It’s an expensive habit that harms almost all major organs of your body; it is estimated that close to 16 million Americans are currently battling a disease caused by long-term smoking. Not to mention that smoking is highly harmful to your oral and dental healthiness. Apart from staining your teeth badly, smoking is also a recognized risk factor for perennial gum disease, oral cancer, and premature tooth loss.
3. Learn to Floss the Right Way
Truth be told, nobody really enjoys flossing. Regular flossing is, nonetheless, very vital for optimum teeth health and prevention of the onset of dental caries. Unlike normal brushing, flossing cleans all 5 sides of the tooth thereby eliminating any chances of food debris being left to rot in between your teeth, which could be missed when one relies on brushing alone. An easy way of developing a habit of regular flossing is by multitasking while watching TV or reading before bed after supper.
References: Mayoclinic, Healthline, UIC Dentistry.