How to Prevent and Treat Tooth Decay
Our teeth are constantly bombarded by sugary sweets, coffee to fuel our busy office lifestyle, or sports drinks to keep us hydrated during sports. Fortunately, your dentist Neutral Bay or North Sydney dentist is equipped with many modern solutions to fix the problems caused by these modern threats to oral health – including dental fillings, dental crowns, dental veneers, and root canal procedures.
Education has also come a long way and many people are nowadays more aware of the risks of sugar consumption and poor oral hygiene. Still, it’s easy to succumb to tooth decay or to find that your child is suffering from tooth decay. Baby teeth have less enamel and children are less conscientious about their brushing routine, and are therefore more prone to this common dental condition.
What is tooth decay, exactly?
Tooth decay is the loss of minerals from the tooth, which often first presents itself as a white or black spot on the tooth. If left unchecked it commonly progresses and results in a cavity or a hole in the tooth, which may be visible from the outside or able to be felt with your tongue.
The condition can be associated with toothache because it can reduce the level of protection the sensitive inner part of the tooth is receiving. This pain, or sensitivity to hot or cold food and drink, may be the first sign you are suffering from tooth decay.
Tooth decay is the result of a person’s diet, combined with oral hygiene habits. The sugar in food and drink supports certain bacteria in the mouth that reside in dental plaque. The bacteria turn the sugar to acid, which then quite literally erodes the tooth, resulting in the loss of dental minerals (i.e., dentin, enamel).
How can I prevent tooth decay?
The best methods start at home. Eat a balanced diet with limited sugar intake, the drink tap water which may contain strengthening fluoride, and investigate health information on the back of food packaging so you are not consuming sugar without knowing it. Follow the advice of your dentist near me or Neutral Bay dental clinic on brushing and flossing, and on the correct techniques and products to use. Stay hydrated, because saliva can help fend off tooth decay.
Regardless of your best efforts at home, a toothbrush available at the supermarket just isn’t as capable as the advanced equipment and experience at the disposal of your North Sydney dentist. Your dentist can perform a thorough clean to remove plaque, and therefore the conditions that lead to tooth decay. They can strengthen your teeth using fluoride or use fissure sealants to prevent decay-conducive conditions. They can use white-coloured fillings to fill in any cavities and restore the integrity of your teeth.
If decay is more advanced, they can use a dental crown or a root canal procedure if needed to preserve the tooth. If the main concerns are cosmetic, your dentist Neutral Bay can provide Neutral Bay teeth whitening or Invisalign North Sydney.
For more information on how Dental Sanctuary can help, contact us now.
