Why Cavity Prevention Is Such a Big Deal

Preventing things from happening is the basis of good dental health care. For example, brushing and flossing your teeth every day is meant to prevent plaque from overwhelming your teeth and gums. Also, dental checkups and cleanings at our Dallas, TX, dental office help prevent any lingering plaque and tartar (calcified plaque) from leading to more serious problems. For many patients, the most common thing to prevent is cavities – depressions that form in teeth when oral bacteria infect them with decay.

How does a cavity develop?

The tooth decay that leads to cavities is the most common chronic dental issue to affect both children and adults. That’s partly due to the fact that it’s a product of bacteria that naturally inhabit the human mouth. Certain types of oral bacteria, found abundantly in dental plaque, can produce acids every time you eat carbs or sugars. These acids erode the enamel that protects your healthy, natural teeth, and excessive enamel erosion can leave your teeth vulnerable to infection from these bacteria. Once decay develops, it will progress and the cavity that it leaves behind will grow increasingly larger.

How bad can it get if you ignore it?

Tooth decay is progressive, and an increasingly larger cavity is only result of its progression. Your main tooth structure, or dentin, is finite; eventually, decay will progress past it and into the pulp chamber at its center. The pulp houses the nerves and blood vessels of the tooth, and is connected to the root canal that connects these tissues to your jawbone (and the vital nutrients it provides your tooth). If you ignore a cavity long enough, the decay behind it can become much more severe, and treating your tooth decay might require more treatment such as root canal therapy.

What’s the best way to prevent cavities?

Once a cavity develops, you may be able to treat it conservatively and stop it from progressing with a tooth-colored filling. However, it’s better to prevent a cavity from forming in the first place, which requires diligent attention to your dental hygiene and preventive care routine, such as:

• Brushing your teeth twice and flossing at least once every single day
• Avoiding sugar to lessen the attacks on your tooth enamel
• Rinsing your mouth with water after every snack and meal
• Sticking to a strict schedule of preventive checkups and cleanings

Learn more about cavity prevention

Prevention is the most important part of professional dental care, especially when it comes to the most common dental issue – cavities. For more information, schedule an appointment by calling Gentle Smiles in Dallas, TX, today at 972-329-7645 (972-329-SMILE).