Cavity Strategies: Defeat Sweets

We thought we’d start our blog with a little article about cavities:

Tooth decay happens when the acidity in your mouth rises and demineralizes your beautiful natural tooth enamel (the outer layer of your tooth) faster than your body can remineralize it. What raises acidity you may ask? Foods that contain starches and sugars like sweet treats, and even some fruits, vegetables, and juices! We can treat early minor decay with fluoride, but we’d rather help you to prevent it.

Come into the office and we can show you how to clean your teeth properly and provide sealants which are thin coatings that protect the grooves on the chewing surface of your molars. Your own saliva can help neutralize acid and remineralize your enamel, so sometimes we suggest that you chew sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva if you need to.

All said and done, the best way to prevent decay is to brush and floss regularly, avoid sugary snacks, and maintain regular dental visits.

Tooth decay seen on a dental x-ray appears as a dark break within the outer enamel layer of tooth extending into the inner layer of dentin.