How To Prevent Tooth Decay

Cavities, or holes in your teeth, are often the resulting damage to a tooth’s surface or enamel, known as tooth decay. Our mouths are full of bacteria – both good and bad. The bacteria contributing to tooth decay bind with food particles to create a sticky layer called plaque. The bacteria in plaque will turn the sugars and starches you eat into acids in your mouth, which begin to eat away at your enamel. Plaque contributes to tooth decay and can lead to gum irritation, disease, and loss of the tooth. To help prevent tooth loss, our Kenosha dentist has provided some tips on how to prevent tooth decay. Call our dental office at 262-612-3807 to schedule a dental exam and teeth cleaning at Denthetics, LLC, with Dr. Felicia Mata-Stein.

How To Prevent Tooth Decay at Home

While bi-annual teeth cleaning appointments to see our dentist, Dr. Felicia Mata-Stein is essential in maintaining your oral health; there are steps you can take at home to reduce your chances of needing more serious dental care.

Good Oral Care At-Home helps Prevent Tooth Decay

Your oral hygiene routine should include the necessary basics: brushing, flossing, and rinsing.

Brushing

Our dentist, Dr. Felicia S. Mata-Stein, recommends brushing your teeth twice daily, morning and night, for two minutes. Plaque will form in just a few hours overnight and throughout your day. Brushing your teeth in the morning and evening will help prevent buildup by removing it before it hardens into tartar. Make sure you use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste while brushing the front, back, and chewing surfaces of your teeth. Also, remember to change your toothbrush every 3-6 months to prevent under-brushing with weak or damaged bristles.

Flossing

It is essential that you floss at least once a day before you brush, whether you do so in the morning or afternoon. Flossing helps reach all the in-between spaces that your toothbrush cannot, aiding in plaque and food removal. Food stuck in between your teeth not only leads to cavities but is a leading cause of bad breath.

Rinsing

Rinsing your mouth with an antimicrobial mouthwash after you brush your teeth will aid in the reduction of plaque and help prevent cavities. In addition, the average person gets fluoride daily from various sources, including toothpaste and many drinking water sources. Fluoride, along with your saliva, helps your teeth repair themselves by replacing the minerals lost throughout the day when eating sugary and starchy foods and drinks. If you do not get sufficient fluoride on a daily basis, your teeth will not be able to repair themselves faster than they decay, leading to detrimental tooth decay. Introducing a fluoride rinse in addition to your fluoride toothpaste will help ensure that your teeth have the minerals they need to stay strong and healthy.

Regular Dentist Appointments in Kenosha

While brushing, flossing, and rinsing your teeth are the foundation of your oral health, visiting the dentist twice a year is also required to ensure that your at-home care is doing what it needs.

Routine Dental Visits

While you may be able to detect a cavity on your own, an appointment with our Kenosha dentist, Dr. Felicia Mata-Stein, is necessary for proper diagnosis. You should start seeing a dentist in Kenosha every six months, starting six months after your first baby tooth. Regular check-ups and teeth cleanings with Dr. Mata-Stein, our Kenosha dentist, is vital factors in maintaining oral hygiene and preventing late diagnoses of tooth decay. Our Denthetics, LLC general dentistry team will discuss the measures you are taking in your oral hygiene routine and help make any adjustments you may need.

Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are a barrier between teeth and acids to prevent plaque buildup. Ideally, Dr. Mata-Stein places the dental sealant on the chewing surfaces of your molars as soon as an individual’s permanent adult molars come in, generally around 12 years old. Dental sealants are not permanent and will need to be resealed every few years, but when they are in place, they have been shown to reduce tooth decay by 80%.

Schedule An Appointment at Denthetics, LLC!

We are accepting new patients at our Kenosha dental practice Denthetics, LLC! Call 262-612-3807 to schedule an appointment with our dentist, Dr. Felicia Mata-Stein, who has over 30 years of advanced dental training in Family, Cosmetic, and General Dentistry. She is also Board-Certified in Aesthetics to provide patients with BOTOX and Fillers at her office.