The importance of knowing how to prevent tooth decay can’t be understated. Perhaps the most important reason to regularly schedule appointments with your dentist is to prevent tooth decay from happening to you or a loved one. Why is tooth decay such a concern? Your oral health can suffer when the signs of tooth decay appear. Fortunately, Splendid Dental Woodlands provides the general dentistry people can count on to keep them healthy.
It’s essential to make regular dental appointments to prevent serious dental problems, such as tooth decay. Fortunately, at Splendid Dental Woodlands, we work to ensure that our patients’ smiles are healthy and beautiful all year round. Contact us today at 713-587-9996 to learn more about our services or to make your initial appointment.
What Is Tooth Decay?
Tooth decay destroys your enamel, the protective surface layer of your teeth. Enamel is your tooth’s first line of defense against bacteria. The foods we eat allow for plaque and tartar to buildup. Dental plaque is a clear sticky film. It comes from eating foods high in sugar and starch. When you don’t regularly brush or floss, plaque builds up. It can harden into tartar, which allows harmful bacteria to live and grow on your teeth. This bacteria then eat away at your enamel, eventually getting to the interior of the tooth. Thus, cavities form. Also, as bacteria feeds on your tooth, it weakens the enamel. Even before a cavity develops, tooth decay can cause cracking or breakage. If this happens, you’ll need extensive oral surgery.
As cavities develop, the harmful bacteria enter into the interior of your tooth, or the pulp. Once here, your tooth can become infected, causing severe pain and even leading to tooth loss. Also, it’s not infrequent that tooth decay can be the source of a wider illness in your body. Clearly, knowing how to prevent tooth decay is vital not just for good oral health but good overall health.
How to Prevent Tooth Decay
If you experience any of the following, then you may be suffering from tooth decay:
- Spontaneous pain without apparent cause
- Sudden tooth sensitivity to hot or cold food or drink
- Visible holes (cavities) in your teeth
- Tooth discoloration, meaning stains or spots
- Pain in your jaw when chewing or biting
Tartar and plaque can only be professionally removed. Thus, your dentist offers teeth cleaning to remove this buildup. But there are several actions you can take to lower the risk of tooth decay. You may be interested in knowing how to prevent tooth decay naturally. Aside from your daily brushing and flossing, fluoride treatments can be a natural tooth decay prevention measure. Because fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral vital to bone health, it makes for an excellent treatment. Ask your dentist about the possibility of having a fluoride treatment at your next appointment. Also, ask your dentist products you can find over-the-counter you can share with others about how to prevent tooth decay naturally.
Prevent Tooth Decay with Splendid Dental Woodlands
Tooth decay prevention is something everyone cares about at Splendid Dental Woodlands. You and your children deserve bright, healthy smiles. Therefore, we offer excellent pediatric dentistry. Of course, we also have a variety of services for adults like teeth whitening and dental implants. We also offer a range of additional services, including:
You should not wait for your teeth to begin hurting or suffer from decay before setting up an appointment with a dentist! Contact our compassionate, experienced staff today at 713-587-9996 to schedule a consultation to see what our experienced dental team can offer you.
