6 Simple Tips to Prevent Cavities
Almost everyone has heard of cavities and 92% of adults have had at least one cavity in their lifetime. However, cavities are avoidable if we maintain a good oral maintenance so we leave you with 6 simple tips to avoid cavities.
What are Cavities (Tooth Decay)?
Cavities are an infectious disease of the mouth. As a consequence of the fermentation of sugars in the diet, the microorganisms in dental plaque produce acids that attack the inorganic component of the tooth tissues.
This produces a demineralization of these hard tissues which, if it progresses and is perpetuated over time, can lead to their destruction, causing softening and the formation of a cavity.
In many cases the presence of caries is undetectable, so it is extremely important to give it a preventive rather than a corrective approach.
At the beginning, a white spot can be observed, which darkens over time as the lesion progresses.
Those cavities that are hidden on the surface between teeth are very difficult to identify with the naked eye, so in some cases it is necessary to perform intraoral radiographs to diagnose them in time.
Causes of cavities formation
Depending on the type of cavity, the problem may be more serious or easier to solve. We can divide the types of caries based on where they appear:
- Coronal cavities: This is the most superficial and frequent, and mainly affects chewing.
- Root cavities: This type of caries is usually more dangerous and more difficult to remove because it is at the root level. On many occasions it can be solved with an endodontics eliminating the infection, and, in extreme cases, can lead to the extraction of the tooth.
- Recurrent cavities: They appear under fillings or caps that have been previously placed for the treatment of another caries or in other circumstances, such as reconstruction of fractured teeth, replacement of missing teeth, esthetic restorative treatments, etc.
Dental cavities can have a variety of causes, the most common being:
- Bacteria
- Poor oral hygiene
- Consumption of sugary drinks
- Consumption of acidic or sugary foods
- Lack of interdental hygiene
- Fragile tooth enamel
- Having underlying health conditions that affect oral health
- Alcohol or drug use
Symptoms of cavities
We can determine 5 common signs that are indicative that we may have caries:
- General tooth sensitivity: Sensitivity is one of the most frequent symptoms of a cavity and may seem to occur without warning.
- Pain when eating: The pain caused by a cavity or tooth decay may be especially noticeable when certain hot or cold foods or drinks are consumed.
- Tooth pain: In the early stages of a cavity, you may have mild pain or no pain at all, making it difficult to detect.
- Holes in the teeth: You may be able to see a small hole in the decayed area of the tooth. If you see a small hole, mark or pit in the tooth, this could mean you have a cavity.
- Bad breath: Cavities are infected areas that can collect food particles and become breeding grounds for bacteria. Therefore, persistent bad breath or bad taste in the mouth can be a symptom of a cavity.
Consequences of cavities
After the destruction of the enamel, cavities attacks the dentin and can even reach the dental pulp, which is the interior of the dental organ, leading to infection of the root of the tooth.
In these more advanced cases, inflammation of the nerve and subsequent necrosis can occur if nerve treatment is not carried out in time.
If the tooth is not adequately treated, inflammation can establish in the area surrounding the apex (root end) leading to an infectious process at the bone level.
Essentially, dental cavities destroys the pulp of the tooth. Sometimes, caries has advanced in its process and has generated such damage that the tooth cannot be saved and must be extracted.
Tips to prevent cavities and tooth decay
To combat caries, as previously mentioned, it is essential to have a preventive approach and not so much a corrective one, since the complication is greater, which also entails a more costly treatment for the patient.
1. Brush your teeth
Brushing should be the most common practice and the habit of everyone after every meal.
It is always recommended to do it for a minimum of two minutes. This will help remove bacterial plaque and food debris that accumulate on your teeth, something that if not removed over time could cause cavities.
It is also important to brush if you have consumed sugary or sticky foods. These are very cariogenic and should be removed with a thorough brushing about 20 minutes after eating them.
2. Use dental floss
This practice can prevent a number of dental complications, however, because it is a slower practice than brushing, the vast majority of people do not do it.
Brushing alone covers 60% of the total surface of the mouth. The areas between the teeth can be a major source of caries.
Therefore, it is important to include in the routine interdental cleaning solutions such as dental floss that will prevent the accumulation of food between teeth and the proliferation of bacteria in the mouth.
3. Use mouthwash
The use of mouthwash is a perfect complement for cleaning teeth because of its fluoride content.
Fluoride protects the teeth and fights cavities and will be able to eliminate all those germs that have resisted brushing.
Remember that brushing your teeth is not enough, as they make up only 25% of the oral cavity.
4. Avoid consumption of sugars
Sugars such as sticky sweets have the particularity of getting stuck between the teeth, which makes them more cariogenic, causing bacteria to develop and attack the dental enamel.
Sugar consumption should be moderate and, as recommended in the previous point, we should brush our teeth afterwards.
5. Use fluoride toothpaste
Fluoride helps to strengthen enamel, thus preventing tooth decay.
On the product packaging you can find the concentration of fluoride indicated as “parts per million” (ppm). From 2 to 6 years of age, it should not be above 500 ppm (to avoid fluorosis in children, an excess of fluoride that appears as white spots on the teeth) and from 6 years of age on, 1450 ppm.
Undoubtedly, fluoride is the key component for maintaining good dental health and preventing the proliferation of bacteria.
6. Recurrent dental cleanings
Visiting your dentist on a routine basis is essential to avoid cavities. We recommend always having deep dental cleanings every 4 to 6 months depending on your oral condition.
Dental cleanings help remove tartar that builds up on your teeth and can later help cavities to develop.
A 30-45 minute visit with a simple procedure can be the difference between having a great healthy smile and having to undergo cavity treatment.
Where to get a root canal in Costa Rica?
As we discussed in the article, once decay has advanced and evolved so far that it affects the root of a tooth, you may need to undergo a nerve or root canal treatment to save the tooth.
Depending on the severity, the procedure may take longer, but it is a guarantee that you can get a healthy tooth back without the need for extraction.
In Lamicq Dental Care we have more than 10 years of experience performing endodontics and with great success. Do not hesitate to contact us on our WhatsApp to clarify any doubts you have regarding your tooth pain or about a possible root canal in our clinic.