Prevent Cavities With Our Indianapolis Family Dentists
A cavity can be a peculiar thing. When it comes to your dental health, the last thing you want to hear is that you have a cavity. Okay, maybe the last thing you want to hear is that you need to have a tooth pulled, but, before that – it's that you have a cavity.
A cavity is caused by bacteria creating an acidic home on your teeth, also known as plaque. The plaque wears down your enamel and bores a hole through your tooth until it reaches the center, or the pulp. Typically, when the hole is nearing the pulp, your tooth will start to feel sensitivity to hot and cold as well as pressure. Some also experience sensitivity to sweets.
Ideally, you want to prevent cavities from forming, or catch them before they reach the center of your tooth. If the tooth decay reaches the pulp, typically the whole tooth is affected, right down through the root. The only way to salvage the tooth at that point is to perform a root canal and give the tooth a permanent crown.
How Can I Prevent Cavities?
It's important to keep in mind that cavities are typically preventable. However, in some cases, certain mouths are more prone to cavities than others. This is due to crookedness of teeth, existing enamel challenges, or even genes. In more than 85% of cases, though, cavities are preventable.
Here are a few ways to prevent cavities:
• Brush after every meal
• Floss twice a day
• Modify diet to include less sugars
• Use anti-cavity mouth rinse
• Visit our office for cleaning twice a year
It's important to visit Meridian Dentistry twice a year for cleanings. It's important to opt for the yearly x-rays. Between the cleanings and x-rays, our Indianapolis family dentists and hygienists will spot problem areas for cavities. Preventative measures are be taken to prevent further decay if it isn’t yet mandatory for us to intervene for a filling.
If you find that you're following the above tips methodically, but you still have a cavity at every visit, be sure to ask our team what more to do to prevent cavities. Call Meridian Dental Center at (317) 926-5467 to schedule an appointment with our top Indianapolis family dentists today.