4 Easy Ways to Prevent Tooth Decay

4 Easy Ways to Prevent Tooth Decay

Tooth decay happens when plaque develops on the surface of the teeth. It often mixes with natural food sugars or additives, creating a strong acid that can eventually erode the enamel on the surface of teeth.

Symptoms of tooth decay may not occur until the condition has been left untreated for a while. Initial symptoms can include sensitive or painful teeth and cavities requiring fillings. If left even longer, you may need to have decayed teeth extracted or treated with root canal to prevent infection of the gums and surrounding tissue.

It’s always better to work to prevent tooth decay rather than to fix it. In many cases, the damage caused by tooth decay is irreparable and leaving your teeth longer before getting treatment can lead to even more costly procedures.

Here’s our guide to 4 simple ways you can prevent tooth decay as part of your regular routine.

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene

Brushing, flossing and using mouthwash twice a day will help prevent tooth decay from settling in. Brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste (we’ll discuss why in more detail below). Don’t neglect the gum line when thinking about the cleanliness of your smile – it’s often the gums that harbour plenty of bacteria which can develop into plaque. Flossing can help you remove these trickier particles that can’t be cleaned away through brushing alone.

Following up these two steps with an antibacterial mouthwash can help ensure you catch the potential bacteria that could lead to plaque each day. Even simple steps such as rinsing your mouth with water after a particularly sugary or acidic meal can help avoid the build up of bacteria throughout the day.

Your dentist may be able to recommend specific types of toothpaste or brushes if you have issues such as sensitive teeth. Your own dentist can offer a more bespoke recommendation tailored to your personal dental needs.

READ MORE: Why is good dental hygiene important?

Healthy Diet Choices

Our diets do play a leading role in determining how healthy our teeth are. If you often find yourself reaching for a sugary snack, the bacteria this contributes to within the mouth can be one of the risk factors in developing tooth decay. Similarly, acidic foods and drinks like fizzy drinks or wine can erode enamel more than usual.

Consider swapping out a sugary snack for tooth-friendly options, such as cheese and foods rich in calcium to strengthen teeth. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated and also wash away any particles that build up with each meal. Ensuring your diet is well balanced in general can also help build up your immune system and help prevent infections from forming, keeping your oral and overall health in check!

Regular Checkups

Going to the dentist for regular checkups and hygiene appointments is one of the best ways to ensure you’re preventing tooth decay – or catching it early if it does happen. Most dentists will recommend you visit them every 6 months for a normal checkup, with alternative recommendations that may be based on your lifestyle and current dental health. If you have certain health conditions or are a smoker, you may benefit from additional or more frequent checkups.

Having your teeth scaled and polished regularly can also help reduce the risk of developing tooth decay. These professional cleanings help remove hardened plaque that has formed what we call tartar, a dense substance that you cannot remove through brushing or flossing at home. Having your teeth professionally cleaned can also feel like a bit of a treat, especially if you opt for our intensive hygiene option. Our teeth cleaning appointments start at £65.00 for our express option, going up to £130.00 for our intensive hygiene appointments. If you feel like even more of a treat, we do offer deep periodontal treatments from £130.00 – prices may vary depending on how regularly you have your teeth treated.

It’s important that you speak to your dentist about how they can help you prevent tooth decay if you are concerned. They can provide professional and bespoke advice depending on how well your dental health is doing, taking into account other factors such as lifestyle and other aspects of your physical health too.

Fluoride Treatments

Fluoride toothpaste is a must if you’re looking to maintain your dental health. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that helps strengthen enamel, preventing tooth decay. Fluoride can be found in some types of seafoods, black tea and leafy greens. However, not everyone eats enough of these types of foods to maintain healthy enamel. This is why fluoride is added to toothpaste and water supplies.

To ensure you are getting enough fluoride, fluoridated water is also worth considering. As standard, many communities already provide fluoridated water, which can be specially formulated to ensure and maintain our dental health. In other areas, this fluoride is naturally occurring within the drinking water, and nothing has to be added. To find out if your water supply is fluoridated, ask your water supplier. In the North West, this is usually United Utilities.

Your dentist may also be able to offer a fluoride treatment during an appointment with them. If you have concerns about tooth decay, fluoride can help reverse the effects and prevent enamel from breaking down further. Ask your dentist if they have any treatments for extra protection.

Prevent Tooth Decay with Ringway Dental

At Ringway Dental in Cheadle, Hulme, we’ve made preventing tooth decay simple. Our regular patients are much less likely to develop tooth decay than those who leave their dental health unchecked. We know to spot the signs as soon as those first symptoms showing something is amiss – and this can help us identify issues and maintain your oral health before problems arise.

If you’d like to become a regular patient with us, call our reception now on 0161 437 2029. Our new patient consultations are £65.00 – just the same as our regular checkups, so you won’t be paying any premium for being a first-time patient.

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