Risk factors influence the formation of tooth decay immensely. Most of these are well known, and in most cases, these factors are avoidable, allowing you and your dentist to develop a preventive strategy based on health education. Nevertheless, decay is a common dental problem that should never be ignored. Scheduling regular visits with your Dentist in NYC is a must if you want to maintain good oral health.
Dentists must differentiate between different risk factors:
* Poor oral hygiene: if the teeth are not cleaned improperly, for example you do not access the interdental areas or the gum line, plaque accumulation and deposits will build until they cause serious gum and tooth problems (gingivitis, tooth loss, etc.). Proper daily brushing (after every meal), flossing and using mouthwash will help you avoid cavities and poor oral health.
* Diet rich in sugars and carbohydrates: sugar and carbohydrate abuse, especially if ingested without food, favors the activity of so-called cariogenic bacteria. This facilitates the release of acids that demineralize enamel and dentin, which result in cavities. To avoid this, there are only two solutions: lower your intake of sugar and/or carbohydrates between meals and brush your teeth properly three times a day.
* Dry mouth: saliva helps remove bacteria from the oral cavity, so the factors that promote loss of saliva or dry mouth (snuff, alcohol, thyroid gland disorders and other diseases) increase bacterial activity that ends in the formation of tooth decay.
* Fluoride: fluoride is necessary for the re-mineralization of teeth. Hence the need to use toothpaste with this mineral. Also, although it is a measure that is controversial, it has been found that fluoridation of drinking water has a preventive value as well.
* Lack of information: the lack of information on dental health is detrimental to poor dental health. Educating children from an early stage about the importance of oral hygiene and how to do it properly to avoid complications such as tooth decay or periodontal disease is vital. The lack of information and health education should be considered as an important risk factor against the development of tooth decay.
Visiting your local Dentist in NYC twice a year will help you when it comes to oral health. However, dentists cannot do it all. Practicing good oral hygiene is a must.
