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:
- 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.
- Floss. Understand that cavities can also form between teeth. Flossing removes plaque and food particles.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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