4 Tips For Preventing Cavities

If you want to decrease your chance of getting a cavity, and having to deal with other dental issues, you are going to need to know how to take care of your teeth. Cavities are caused by tooth decay, and they are in large part preventable as an adult. It is important to note however that medication, medical problems, and heredity can also impact your propensity to get cavities. 

Brush Right

One of the most important things you can do to prevent cavities is to brush correctly. Just brushing twice a day is not enough; you need to ensure that you are using the right technique when you are brushing. You need to hold your brush at an angle, and you need to brush the front, top, and back of your teeth. You need to ensure you are brushing all of your teeth, from the front to the back. You need to ensure you brush as long as possible in order to effectively clean your teeth. 

It is important to change out your toothbrush on a regular basis; you shouldn't be using the same brush for years. You should also be sure you are storing it upright to ensure that the toothbrush isn't wet. You don't want to brush with a wet toothbrush; wet toothbrushes can harbor bacteria. 

Start Flossing

Second, it is important to start flossing on a regular basis. Flossing is such a simple yet overlooked activity. If you don't like the old-school method of taking a string and twisting it around your fingers to floss your teeth, there are other methods of flossing your teeth.

You can use floss toothpicks, where the floss is on a pick that you can use to floss with. This can be easier to use if you don't have a lot of dexterity to floss the traditional way. There are also water flossing tools that are like a pressure washer for your mouth that helps to remove the floss from in between your teeth. There are lots of different ways to floss if you are not comfortable with the traditional way to floss. 

Flossing helps to get rid of the plaque that builds up between your teeth, which you can't get to with brushing.

See About Sealants

Third, you should see about sealants. Dental sealants are designed to go over your back teeth when they are clean. The dental sealant is designed to coat the top of your teeth and keep them from becoming decayed. It helps if you have pits in your back teeth, where plaque can build up. The sealant doesn't last forever, so if you had sealant applied to your teeth in the past, you are going to want to follow up with your dentist to ensure that it is still effective and doesn't need to be replaced. 

See Your Dentist

One of the smartest things you can do is visit your dentist on a regular basis. You can brush and floss every day, and still not get rid of all the plaque on your teeth. That is where going to the dentist comes into play. The dentist can deep clean your teeth and remove any plaque that you are not able to get off on your own. They can also spot cavities when they are small, and get rid of them.

If you want to avoid cavities, you need to brush and floss right. You need to get your back teeth covered with sealant, and you need to see your dentist on a regular basis. These are simple yet affordable ways to take care of your teeth.


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