Five tips to prevent your teeth from decaying

Tooth decay or sometimes referred to as Cavities or Caries are the damaged areas in the hard surface of your teeth that develop into tiny black holes or openings. These openings can be minute which goes unnoticed for a long time. Usually, the patients approach the doctor when the damage has become irreversible or has become the cause of discomfort and pain for the patient.

It is a common mistake to associate cavities with sugar intake. Sugar or Sucrose is one of the factors but, there are a few other factors that are left out.

1. Frequency of meals per day-The present-day advanced diets that tell people to go for controlled portions and increase the number of meals per day might be one of the reasons. An increase in the number of meals, frequent snacking, late-night snacking and slacking off to sleep without brushing are few of the many causes of tooth decay.

Every time you eat pH of your mouth drops and turns acidic, creating a medium for bacteria to multiply. From the heuristic health point of view, avoiding sugary food and beverages and reducing the frequency of meals have proven to be healthier for the body. But alas, binging on your favorite show while overloading on chips is what people desire. I know stressed spelled backward is desserts but, how about turning it down a notch and avoiding dental pain.

2. Oral hygiene - I cannot stop emphasizing the importance of Oral hygiene. Swishing your mouth post every meal is a habit that ensures no residual food particles are left behind for the bacteria to proliferate. I have mentioned the tips for better oral hygiene in the previous article.

3. Pit and Fissure Sealants - These are materials applied on the chewing surface of the back teeth. The teeth anatomically have pits and fissures. People with deep pits and fissures are prone to develop cavities because the food gets stuck in these nooks and corners of your teeth and provides nutrition to the oral bacteria. Pit and fissure sealants are beneficial if applied during the eruption of permanent teeth and shedding of milk teeth or primary teeth.

4. Fluoride Application - This is another preventive procedure that protects the teeth from the attack of the mighty bacteria's by forming a shield of Fluoride on the tooth surface. Fluoride application is a thoughtful procedure for those who genetically are more susceptible to present with cavities. This preventive treatment is beneficial if applied during tooth development, both for primary and newly erupted permanent teeth.

5. Cut back on foods with Sugar - From diabetologists to cardiologists all suggest that minimizing sugar intake is beneficial for your body and overall health. Making a conscious effort to eat an apple is rather gruesome. On the contrary, you don’t even realize the speed with which you finish junk. The tongue hates healthy food. Remember, greens don’t sweet-talk your teeth towards it's pulpal death.

-Dr. Mishika Arora

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