Believe it or not, even the ancients Greeks and Romans understood the importance of preventative oral hygiene and dental care and knew how to prevent cavities. Instead of electric toothbrushes and bristles that massaged their teeth and gums, however, the ancients used crushed bone and oyster shells to abrasively clean their teeth. Albeit their method to prevent cavities sounds a bit harsh by todays standards, but you got to work with what you got! Luckily for us modern folks, we have developed quite a few more palatable alternatives for dental care and preventing cavities.
For starters, the following are the top reasons you might develop cavities, followed by how to prevent cavities in the first place. The number one (and most obvious) precursor to dental decay is poor oral hygiene. As such, most dentists will explain that twice daily brushing and once daily flossing are imperative measures of how to prevent cavities. Soft teeth are another cause for dental decay. Weak enamel enables bacteria to nestle into the crevices of your teeth, underscoring the importance of thorough brushing in your how to prevent cavities endeavors. With soft teeth (or anyone for that matter), it is also important to avoid certain foods and drinks, which leads us to our third link to prevent cavity: avoid sugary foods and drink. In fact, drinking three or more sugary drinks each day may lead to more than 62 percent more teeth decay. Additionally, if your diet consists of too much coffee or red wine, the stains could manifest on your teeth, too. As a result, Americans spend $1.4 billion on teeth whitening procedures each year.
It is important to note that how to prevent a cavity can result from certain medical conditions or genetic predispositions (such as soft teeth). Many people with diabetes, for example, suffer from a dry mouth, which when you take saliva away, is a breeding ground for bacteria. Similarly, teeth grinding, which is usually triggered by stress and an unconscious act, can be proactively treated with a protective mouth guard. How to prevent cavities if you have these conditions means being proactive in your daily dental care routines.
Good oral health is more than following how to prevent cavities measures; it is also linked to overall general health. In fact, gum disease has been linked to heart disease and pancreatic cancer. In addition to the routines you can do at home (brushing, flossing, etc.) a routine, bi annual visit to a dentist might be the second most important step to how to prevent cavities. A dentist can also provide early detection if something, such as oral cancer, is suspected.
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