Strategies For Prevention Of Tooth Decay In Adults
The assessment of what a person already has going on in their mouth, their oral health history, current health status, medications, and lifestyle has a very important role in determining the best preventive regimen & treatment needs.
What are the major factors in the development of tooth decay & what are the best strategies to stop them?
How can I prevent tooth decay?
Regular dental exams are crucial for the diagnosis and prevention of oral diseases. Dental X-rays are a useful diagnostic tool to evaluate the tooth and the surrounding area.
Your dentist will ask about any systemic problems you have or medications you’re taking, to determine & discuss the impact they might have on your oral health.
For instance, diabetic patients are at an increased risk of gum disease. At regular checkups, they can be evaluated for the risk of tooth decay, root decay, and gum or bone disease as well as condition of previous dental work.
- Brush twice daily to disrupt the plaque accumulation & increase the tooth mineralisation.
- Flossing – to clean hard to reach areas in your mouth (30% area of each tooth), like between two adjacent teeth.
- In-office application of mineral agents strengthens the tooth enamel against cavities and reduces enamel demineralisation.
- Regular cleanings are very important to prevent the buildup of plaque and tartar, both of which if left untreated, can lead to cavities and gum diseases like gingivitis or periodontitis.
- Eating a healthy well-balanced diet with reduced sugar intake.
- Drink water rather than soft drinks, juices (contain unhealthy amounts of sugars). High caffeine can increase the risk of dehydration & dry mouth.
- Sugar-free chewing gum after meals to increase saliva flow, especially in conditions like Sjorgen syndrome, diabetes, patients undergoing radiotherapy. Salivary flow can also be reduced due to certain medications. Saliva serves as a powerful natural defense against tooth decay by washing sugar out of your mouth into the stomach, stopping the damaging effect of acid produced by bacteria. Early stages of tooth decay can be repaired by the tooth reparative minerals in saliva.
- Pits & fissure sealants are recommended by your dentist if you have deep groove on your premolars and molars. This prevents decay on the biting surface of your teeth.