If you are not suffering from any active discomfort, you may believe you have nothing to worry about when it comes to dental decay. A lack of pain does not mean there is no reason for concern. You could have a cavity that has only recently formed, but one that will continue to grow until restorative dental work is performed. You could also have a worrying buildup of tartar on your teeth that makes you more likely to suffer issues with decay in the near future. At our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office, patients can receive more than just preventive care during regular dental checkups. We can also offer tips that you can follow in order to reduce your risk for future cavities!
How Effective Is Your Current Cavity Prevention Routine?
If you want to make sure you are safe from the threat of tooth decay, you should brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss at least one time each day, and make an effort to control your diet so that you limit your exposure to sugars. By doing this, you put up an effective fight against plaque and tartar buildup, and you also take care to deprive oral bacteria of food, which further limits your potential to experience dental decay. Remember that the fight you put up against bacteria buildup helps with your periodontal health as well as your oral health.
Changing Your Approach To Brushing And Flossing
While brushing and flossing consistently is important, people sometimes undermine their own efforts by not being thorough enough when cleaning their teeth. In other words, you may have trouble not because you fail to brush and floss, but because you consistently miss certain portions of your teeth when you do so. When brushing, make sure you spend at least two minutes working to remove harmful food debris and bacteria from your enamel, take care to clean at your gum line, and be sure to replace a toothbrush after three months (or as soon as the bristles appear worn). When you floss, be sure that you move the string up and down, with care taken to clean at your gum line, in order to protect yourself against decay and gingivitis.
Count On Good Daily Habits AND Regular Dental Exams For Cavity Prevention
With good habits alongside regular dental exams, you can control your risk for problems with tooth decay! The benefit to regular exams is consistent feedback about the state of your smile, which can lead to warnings about poor hygiene as well as assistance with decay if a cavity has formed. By having treatment performed promptly on a cavity, you can have your tooth restored with a dental filling. The alternative means letting a cavity continue to grow until a dental crown has to be put in place.
Talk To Your Ankeny, IA Dentist’s Office About Cavity Prevention
At our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office, individuals who worry about their cavity risk can count on us for guidance as well as in-office care to prevent oral health issues. To find out more, please contact Dental Impressions at (515) 965-0230 to schedule a visit.
