Prevent Tooth Decay In The Bangor, Wind Gap & Mt Bethel Family Area
Preventing
tooth decay begins with a daily homecare regime that includes brushing
after breakfast, and brushing and flossing at night after your last
meal. Removing the plaque and bacteria that build on all surfaces of a
tooth daily is extremely important. Also, limiting sugars in your diet,
and when you do eat sugars brush immediately after eating. Brushing
within the first 20 minutes of eating sugars prevents the PH of the oral
environment from dropping to an acidic level which decays the teeth. If
brushing is not possible rinse with water, or chew sugarless gum.
It is also important to protect the chewing surfaces of the molar
teeth in the back. These teeth have deep pits and grooves that a tooth
brush bristle can't fit into to clean. These pits and grooves become
habitats for plaque and bacteria which ultimately lead to decay. To
prevent these teeth from decaying a protective coating can be placed
over the pits and grooves, called a "sealant." Sealants wear out; but,
they can be replaced without any destruction to the tooth.
Another important step in preventing tooth decay is regular dental
exams and cleanings. Dental cleanings remove the problem plaque and
calculus, hard deposits, that form on a tooth and trap bacteria that
lead to decay. Also, frequent exams with necessary x-rays can discover
the start of decay when it is still small and can easily be removed.
Finally, topical fluoride treatments can be applied to tooth and root
surfaces. Fluoride is a mineral that gets absorbed into the tooth
structure. It then makes the tooth more resistant to acids and decay.
Regular dental check-ups should begin no later than 18 months of age.
If you have any questions or need more information, don't hesitate to
call.

|