• Drink fluoridated water and brush with fluoride toothpaste: When you eat things like candy, crackers or noodles, cavity-causing bacteria starts feasting on the carbohydrates in these foods. This produces acids that attack your enamel. It causes calcium and phosphate to be stripped from the tooth enamel, leaving you more vulnerable to decay and cavities.

Now, here’s where fluoride is the superhero. When your saliva has fluoride in it from sources like toothpaste or water, your teeth are able to take it in. Once in your enamel, fluoride teams up with calcium and phosphate there to create the most powerful defense system your teeth can have to prevent cavities from forming: fluoroapatite. It’s much stronger, more resistant to decay and fights to protect your teeth.

• Brush teeth thoroughly and floss daily between the teeth to remove plaque:

The bacteria in plaque produce acids that can harm enamel and cause cavities. Brushing and flossing your teeth can prevent decay, but once a cavity forms, to avoid further damage, a dentist must fix it with a filling. Use fluoride toothpaste to protect your teeth from decay.

• Limit alcoholic drinks: Alcohol also causes mouth dryness. Saliva kills bacteria in the mouth and helps to remove plaque. Therefore, an adequate amount of saliva is necessary to protect the mouth from gum disease and tooth decay. Many alcoholic drinks are high in sugar and/or citrus, the number one cause of tooth decay.
• Control diabetics: If you are diabetic,work to maintain control of the disease.This will increase risk for other complications,including gum disease.Treating gum disease may help lower your blood sugar level.
• Drink plenty of water: If you have a dry mouth drink plenty of water,chew sugarless gum,and avoid tobacco products and alcohol.
• See your doctor or dentist if you have sudden changes in taste and smell: The most common reasons for a bad taste in your mouth have to do with dental hygiene. Not flossing and brushing regularly can cause gingivitis, which can cause a bad taste in your mouth.

Dental problems, such as infections, abscesses, and even wisdom teeth coming in, can also cause a bad taste.

• Don’t go to bed without brushing your teeth: Brushing your teeth before you go to sleep at night helps protect against plaque buildup, tooth decay, and gum disease. If you are particularly susceptible to cavities and gum disease, dentists recommend that you brush immediately after dinner, then again right before bedtime.
• Consider mouthwash: Mouthwash can be used to control bad breath and reduce cavities. It can also help to combat conditions such as receding gums, gingivitis, dry mouth, and plaque buildup. Mouthwash should be used in addition to brushing and flossing. It’s important to use a mouthwash that has the ADA Seal of Acceptance.

Too many people mistakenly believe that they need to see a dentist only if they are in pain or think something is wrong, but they’re missing the bigger picture. A dental visit means being examined by a doctor of oral health capable of diagnosing and treating conditions that can range from routine to extremely complex.

Schedule your appoinment with our dentist on panaceedental.com