How do I prevent tooth decay?

How do I prevent tooth decay?

Tooth decay is a condition in which dental plaque turns sugar into acid, destroying your teeth in the process. People who suffer from this experience symptoms such as toothache, bad breath, unpleasant tastes and sensitivity.

If you are suffering from some of these symptoms, our advice would be to see a dentist as soon as possible, who can guide you and provide dental treatments to resolve your issues. If you haven’t registered with a dentist and are in the Stafford area, we would welcome you to get in touch with us as we have a variety of measures in place to prevent and resolve tooth decay.

How to prevent tooth decay?

You can prevent tooth decay by reducing the amount of sugar in your diet, such as sweets, chocolate, processed foods, and fizzy drinks. You should also brush your teeth at least twice a day – in the morning and at night time using fluoride toothpaste, which benefits you with protection from tooth decay by strengthening enamel, increasing the resistance to acids and plaque build-up from digesting food. You should also visit your dentist regularly, who will examine your teeth and gums carefully and understand where you are at risk.

Treatment

If you have advanced tooth decay, the above may not be enough, and you will need dental treatment to resolve it. This is often done by a filling where the dentist will remove the decay and fill the hole caused by it with various solutions, such as resin for composite tooth coloured fillings.

A crown is another treatment, which is a type of cap that covers the whole tooth. This is a more advanced treatment, so your dentist will only recommend this if its necessary.

Protecting your child’s teeth

Establishing good eating habits by limiting sugary snacks and drinks can help your child avoid tooth decay.

You should make regular visits to the dentist with your child at an early age.

Younger children should use a children’s toothpaste which uses a gentle formula. However, please make sure to read the label about how to use it.

It’s important to teach your child how to clean their teeth properly and regularly to give them good habits.

Children should still brush their teeth twice a day, especially before bedtime.

If you’re concerned about tooth decay, you should definitely speak to your dentist. We have some further information on our website that you can learn about. If you are in the local Stafford area, please feel free to get in touch with us at:

•  01785 508 782.
•  07910 394 043 (24/7).
•  info@churchlanedentalstafford.co.uk.