Preventing Cavities

One of the most common problems with your teeth are cavities. Cavities are caused when your tooth enamel is compromised, allowing bacteria to attack your tooth. This starts with the plaque on your teeth. Plaque is constantly forming on your teeth. When you eat a sugary or starchy food, the sugars work with the plaque to produce acid, which attacks the enamel. Acid from citrus fruits, and some drinks can also contribute to a breakdown in the enamel. While children are certainly cavity-prone, a person can get a cavity at any age. If your gums are receding, those acids can attack the roots of your teeth, which are extremely vulnerable to decay.

To prevent cavities, you should brush at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and floss at least once a day. Seeing your dentist for your regular cleanings and exams will also help, since those visits will give your dentist the chance to remove the plaque and tartar that you may have missed while brushing, and examine your teeth for cavities.

Dental sealants on your molars and premolars can prevent cavities on the chewing surfaces of those teeth. You should also eat a healthy diet, and limit or avoid snacks and drinks with a high acid content, and sugars and starches. If you enjoy citrus fruits and other things that contain acid, you should follow your snack or drink with a glass of water.

If you would like our dentist, Dr. John Cloud, to clean your teeth and check them for cavities, we’ll be happy to schedule you for an appointment. In the Little Rock, Arkansas area, you can call 501-868-3800 to schedule a visit at Cloud Family Dental.