Prevention is Always Better than Treatment

Think small cavities are no big deal?  Think again!  While a cavity might be minor and painless, it’s important to remember that tooth decay is a progressive condition.  What can start as “no big deal,” can develop into a veritable dental nightmare.  And, far too many patients let that happen.

When you ignore tooth decay, what could have been treated with a simple filling may require a more serious procedure.  These include:

• Root canal: Tooth decay, left untreated, can damage a tooth’s pulp – that is, the “living” part of the tooth.  When this happens, a root canal often becomes necessary.
• Dental crown: If a tooth becomes fractured or decayed to the point that a filling won’t be effective, patients will often require a dental crown.
• Extraction: In extreme cases, a tooth can become so decayed that extraction becomes the only viable option.

Want to find out what you can do?  Read on to learn a few ways you can protect yourself from tooth decay!

5 Tips for Preventing Tooth Decay

While there is no way to guarantee you’ll never have a cavity again, here are a few ways to stack the odds in your favor.  Here are our 5 Tips for Preventing Tooth Decay:

1. Brush with a fluoride toothpaste. Brushing is your best line of defense against cavities.  And, a good fluoride toothpaste is worth its weight in gold.
2. Floss. Understand that cavities can also form between teeth.  Flossing removes plaque and food particles.
3. Avoid sugary foods like candy and soda. The cavity-causing bacteria on your mouth live on sugary and starchy foods left on your teeth.  Avoid, especially, sticky foods like candy.
4. Chew sugar-free gum. Beyond its ability to remove food particles, chewing sugar-free gum can promote saliva production.  This has been shown to neutralize plaque acids.
5. Come in for a dental checkup. Most importantly, come in for regular dental checkups.  This allows us to nip small problems in the bud – that way, they won’t become bigger problems down the line!

Dentist in Beverly Hills

Has it been too long since your last checkup?  Don’t hesitate – contact us today.  Schedule an appointment with our Beverly Hills Dental Offices at (310) 273-0111.  We look forward to hearing from you!

Category: General Dentistry