How does Orthodontics Help in Protecting Tooth Decay?
Your teeth can make or break your appearance and help you talk and chew. A healthy smile is a vital asset in maintaining good impression and preventing tooth decay. Protecting your teeth day and night is always is a big concern and tooth decay if left unchecked can rot away teeth. Tooth decay is the most prevalent dental disease amongst children, teens and adults. It is the destruction of tooth enamel and decay around the edges. And how are these cavities formed? Let’s understand.
How Are Cavities Formed?
To have an understanding of how cavities are formed you need to have an understanding of your teeth. The real reason behind tooth decay are bacteria and food. Cavities form over time and here’s how that process happens:
Dental plaque
The main destruction to tooth enamel is the plaque that builds up on teeth. It is not visible initially. Our mouth has various bacteria and one of which is a kind that thrives off sugar that is found in food. When sugar lays on teeth for long, the bacteria produces acid as a result. The acid attack will continue for some time that leads to formation of bacterial plaque and that becomes hard and rough making it a great place for bacteria to live.
Cavities
When the plaque remove the minerals in tooth enamel, the cavities are formed when the erosion creates small holes in the enamel. As the enamel is removed the bacteria begin to wear away at your dentin and deep cavities are formed if not treated.
Ignoring caring of your teeth
Maintaining healthy teeth is not difficult, if you follow the following rules:
- Think before you chew anything hard
- After every meal brush and floss
- Avoid sugary foods and drinks
- Visit your orthodontists as they recommend
But thankfully, there are a variety of steps we can take to prevent tooth decay and protect our smiles for years to com.
Preventing Tooth Decay
Protect your healthy smile for years to come with these simple yet effective steps that orthodontists suggests;
-
- Daily oral hygiene: It’s in our hands to maintain the daily hygiene of our mouth. The most important step is of brushing and flossing. Brush at least twice a day and floss at least once daily. This helps in clearing away bacteria and left behind food particles. Brush at least for two minutes each time to clean surface of the teeth.
-
- Limit your frequent snacking and chipping: Every time eating and munching a little throughout the day puts your teeth under constant attack as the bacteria in your mouth feeds off of the sugar and produces acid that destroys tooth enamel. The best thing to do is to drink water frequently and keep the snacking to a minimum.
-
- Orthodontic treatment: Orthodontic treatment is actually a great step in preventing tooth decay. There are certain ideal hiding places for bacteria that needs the hand of an orthodontic. To promote dental health, orthodontic treatment is a safeguard for beautiful smile.
-
- Fruit, Fiber and whole grain: High fiber foods like dried fruits, dates, figs, fresh fruits and other veggies will keep saliva flowing that helps create mineral to protect against tooth decay. Whole grain food are good supplier of Vitamin B and iron that keeps gum healthy and are good for bones and teeth.
Working with your orthodontist and following these healthy steps will maintain oral health for you and your family.