What is the best way to prevent cavities?
The two major components involved in preventing cavities are home care and professional care. In particular, follow these simple steps: Brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste twice a day. Floss daily. Eat nutritious and balanced meals and limit the amount of refined sugars you eat. Brush immediately after eating sweets because the amount of time the teeth are exposed to sugar is a critical factor in the development of cavities. Check with your dentist about the use of sealants on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to protect them from decay. Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleaning, fluoride treatment and oral examinations.
Brush at least two times a day and floss every night Visit the dentist every 6 months starting at age one Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables Drink Fluoridated water (most tap water contains fluoride) Brush teeth after breastfeeding and/or bottle-feeding at night before bed. Use fluoridated toothpaste (for children 2 years old and up (tiny pea sized amount)) Dont eat a lot of candy, sweets, or snack frequently throughout the day Dont drink a lot of juice or milk frequently throughout the day or night Dont drink soda Dont sleep with milk or juice in a bottle or sippy cup.
Although a combination of proper oral hygiene (regular brushing and flossing of teeth) and fluoride use are the primary tools for preventing tooth decay, dietary changes may help. With respect to diet, it is not the total amount of sugars and starches eaten that contributes to the formation of cavities, but the frequency of carbohydrate consumption, other types of foods consumed, how long the food is in the mouth, and if it sticks to the teeth. Sugars and starches can be consumed without harmful effects when they are ingested as part of main meals rather than eaten continuously throughout the day. Thus, spacing meals at least two hours apart and eating high-protein foods in combination with carbohydrates may protect against dental caries. Also, the chewing action in combination with raw and cooked foods in the mouth can increase salivary production, which minimizes the effect of carbohydrates on teeth. Carbohydrate-containing foods that are sticky and that adhere to teeth are potential
