12 Ways to Protect Teeth from The Cavity

Are there natural ways to prevent cavities? Learn what foods help prevent tooth decay and cavities, and what foods cause them in the first place.

9 Tips for Cavity Prevention
9 Tips for Cavity Prevention

Hate the idea of going to the dentist to get fillings? Want to learn how you can better protect your teeth to avoid getting cavities in the first place?

When you consume sugary or sticky food and drinks, bacteria convert the food into acid in your mouth. This causes plaque to form on your teeth, which can eventually damage your enamel by forming tiny holes. These holes are called cavities. To protect your teeth, avoid candy, soda, and junk food. Instead, eat lots of natural, unprocessed foods, such as fruits and vegetables. These foods are high in vitamins and minerals, which contribute toward good oral health.

If you’re looking for the best ways to protect your teeth, then you are in the right place.

Here are 12 more simple steps you can take to avoid cavities.

Top 12 ways to protect your teeth from cavities:

Brush Daily

Brush your teeth regularly at for at least two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste. For more protection, brush your teeth after every meal. If you can’t brush after every meal, then wash your mouth with water.

Method:

Use a small quantity of toothpaste on your brush. Brush your teeth then wash your mouth. Brush the tops, front and back of every tooth. Also, brush the gum line and tongue. Keep your brush at a 45-degree angle and brush in round action. Brush gently. Don’t brush your teeth forcefully as this can injure your gums. Don’t over brush because it can damage the enamel and also cause cavities so don’t brush more than three times in a day.

Floss Daily

Flossing is also beneficial. It removes the remaining food particles that brushing misses. Flossing also removes plaque and stops the development of tartar. Flossing is especially important if you are using braces or aligners, as you are at especially high risk of developing a cavity when food gets stuck inside your braces or aligners.

Use Mouthwash

Use a mouthwash, including fluoride and a low percentage of chlorhexidine (0.02 %) — switch mouthwash for 10–15 seconds in your mouth. Use an alcohol-free, fluoridated mouthwash certified by the American Dental Association.

Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is an ancient technique. That means swishing oil in your mouth to kill bacteria and improve oral health. Some claim that oil pulling is not scientifically verified, but research shows that it can promote dental health. A 2009 research discovered that oil pulling with sesame oil decreases plaque and bacteria to the same degree as a mouthwash. That means oil pulling can also help to protect enamel and stop cavities.

Regularly Visit Your Dentist

Tooth cleanings by a dentist and proper oral checkups are necessary every six months. If you have a severe dental condition, your dentist may suggest more routine visits.

Avoid Sugary Foods

Sugary food and drinks are bad for your teeth. So it is good to avoid candy, soda, and carbohydrates. In fact, you should pretty much avoid all junk food rich in carbohydrates. Bacteria in your mouth convert sugary foods and beverages into bacteria and cause plaque, which leads to cavities. When you do happen to eat sugary foods, be sure to brush your teeth promptly after eating sugar.

Consider Orthodontic Treatment

Crooked, crowded, or misaligned teeth are more than just a cosmetic issue. When your teeth are out of alignment, it can be much harder to brush and floss effectively, increasing the risk of cavity formation. Adults looking for straighter teeth most often opt for treatment using clear aligners – clear plastic trays that sit over the teeth and gently align them over the course of several months.

The most popular clear aligner option is Invisalign, which will require regular visits to the dentist. Alternatively, you save money by ordering aligners from an online company like Candid or SmileDirectClub. If you’re not sure which option is right for you, consider checking out this online article, which outlines the differences between Invisalign and SmileDirectClub.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera gel is also helpful because it fights the bacteria that create cavities. A 2015 study shows that the antibacterial effect of this gel removes harmful bacteria in the mouth. Aloe Vera gel also helps to protect enamel at the pre-cavity stage.

Eat Healthy Food

Eating healthy food and avoiding sugary drinks will help to stop plaque from developing on your teeth. Drink water a lot of water instead of soda or pop. Eat food which is rich in vitamins and minerals. Calcium, which can be found abundantly in dairy products, almonds, and dark leafy veggies, is especially good for your teeth. Vitamin D is also an important nutrient for strong, healthy teeth. You can ensure you get adequate vitamin D by spending plenty of time outdoors in the sun, or by consuming dairy products and fatty fish like salmon. Finally, be sure to eat plenty of citrus fruits and dark leafy vegetables for vitamin A, another important nutrient for good dental health.

Eat Crunchy Fruits and Veggies

Fresh food is very high in vitamins and minerals. In addition, celery and carrot can help to clean your teeth while you chew on them. Crunchy vegetables naturally cleanse your teeth by gently grinding away plaque. In addition, eating crunchy fruits and vegetables helps your mouth create more saliva, which rebuilds the pH scale in your mouth, limiting the formation plaque.

Vitamin D

A 2013 study shows that vitamin D supplements helped to decrease the number of cavities. Vitamin D has a mineralizing result, which helps to harden tooth enamel.

Chew Sugar-free Gum

Chewing sugar-free gum that includes xylitol can help you remove plaque. Xylitol kills bacteria, and chewing gum can boost saliva. If you don’t have a chance to brush after a meal, then chewing sugar-free gum is the best option for you. But don’t chew too much because it can cause stomach and jaw problems.

Summary

Brush your teeth regularly for at least two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste. And don’t forget about oil pulling – the traditional way to keep your teeth and gums healthy and clean. That means swishing oil in your mouth to kill bacteria and improve oral health.

Aloe Vera gel is also helpful because it fights with bacteria that create cavities. And one final thing to note: bottled water doesn’t always have added fluoride, which is necessary for shielding your teeth from cavities.

In The End Thanks so much for your precious time. We hope you enjoyed reading this article and took away a lot of helpful information. Here in this article, you read about different ways to protect teeth from the cavity. Kindly share this info with others who want to stop cavities, and be sure to share your ideas with us in the comments section below!

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I'm NOT a doctor! I'm just passionate about health and healthy leaving. The information on this website, such as graphics, images, text and all other materials, is provided for reference and educational purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professional. The content is not intended to be complete or exhaustive or to apply to any specific individual's medical condition.