How To Stop Tooth Decay From Spreading ?
Dental decay is one of the most common dental problems for which people seek professional dental help. Decay can progress to cause toothache, sensitivity and dental cavities. Lack of oral hygiene is the most obvious reason for dental decay.
Cavity formation is a continuous gradual process and there are no measures that can prevent it from affecting the deeper layers of the tooth. You can always take measures to prevent dental decay from happening. Nevertheless, if you have a cavity, you can do some things to stop tooth decay from spreading to other teeth.
Brush Your Teeth Thoroughly
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a fluoridated toothpaste to brush your teeth for at least two minutes daily. Often, people do not keep a count of the minutes they spend on brushing teeth. This is the reason why some of them end up in underdoing or overdoing it.
Underdoing does not remove the plaque layer and the food particles stuck within the mouth whereas overdoing can shave off the enamel layer in due course of time. Hence, brushing your teeth in a correct way is essential to ensure that our teeth are protected from dental decay.
Keep Your Mouth Hydrated
A dry mouth can cause an increase in dental decay due to the diminished flushing action of our saliva. Therefore, it is recommended to sip water so that the oral tissue remains hydrated and dental cavities can be prevented.
Limiting or Avoiding Processed Sugar
Processed or refined sugar lacks fiber content and hence, can easily get stuck inside the rough surfaces of our teeth. These sugar particles will be attacked by decay-causing bacteria to form acid. The acid dissolves the minerals of the tooth structure and disintegrates it to form a cavity.
Therefore, avoiding or restricting the consumption of refined sugars can greatly benefit the teeth and overall well being. If you have something sweet, rinse your mouth thoroughly with plain water to reduce the risk of dental decay.
Application of Fluoride
Fluorides help in fortifying the teeth as it combines with the demineralized tooth structure and completes the process of remineralization. You should get fluorides applied to your teeth so that your teeth are in a better position to combat the decay-causing bacteria.
Warm Saline Rinses
Warm salt water rinses are quite therapeutic for oral wounds. Saltwater is known for its antiseptic properties as it can destroy the bacteria even those that are instrumental in forming dental cavities. Swishing warm salt water can help in putting a check in the multiplication of oral bacteria.
Xylitol Chewing Gums
Xylitol is a type of alcohol that helps in killing bacteria and preventing infections. So, chewing xylitol gums after any sugary snack prevents the formation of new cavities. However, the existing cavities may not have any effect due to xylitol.
Routine Dental Checkups
One of the best ways of preventing new cases of dental decay is visiting your dentist once in every year. Your dentist will check every tooth thoroughly to check if there is decay on any of the surfaces. If that surface is cleaned and filled, the progression of decay to deeper layers can be prevented. Deep cavities end up in root canal treatment generally.
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