Avoiding Tooth Decay With Regular Dental Check-Ups

Avoiding Tooth Decay With Regular Dental Check-Ups

It is important to have regular dental check-ups to help avoid tooth decay.

Keeping your teeth, gums, and mouth healthy and clean is an important part of maintaining your good oral hygiene and overall health. Aside from its aesthetic value, a clean and healthy mouth is also a vital part of sustaining your overall health and well-being. Dental problems can often lead to, or be indicative of, other health problems, which is just one of the many reasons why regular dental check-ups are so important.

How often should you visit the dentist?

It is recommended that you visit your dentist at least twice a year (once every six months) for a proper examination and cleaning. Some patients however, may need to visit their dentist more often than that, depending on the condition of their mouth and teeth.

People with a high risk of dental disease will be required to visit their dentist more often than twice a year to keep their mouth and teeth healthy and to avoid disease and infection. These are usually patients who suffer from lowered immunity (such as pregnant women, smokers, diabetics, etc.).

Regular dental check-ups are an important aspect of your health and will help with preventing dental problems such as tooth decay.

Here is a list of ways in which you can avoid dreaded tooth decay:

How to Avoid Tooth Decay

  1. Brush regularly and thoroughly: If possible, you should brush after each meal. If this can’t be done then make sure you brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes, twice a day to remove plaque and tartar. Brush all surfaces of your teeth including the front, back, and chewing surfaces by making small circular motions over each surface of each tooth.
  2. Flossing is important: Flossing is a great way to reach all those tiny and difficult places your toothbrush can’t get to. You should use a quality floss and floss at least once a day, preferably right before bed to remove leftover plaque, tartar and dirt.
  3. Use a fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash: Fluoride helps strengthen your teeth’s natural enamel, helping protect it from bacteria and cavities. Gargling and rinsing with a fluoride mouthwash will also help strengthen your teeth, loosen any stuck food particles, and kill any bacteria in your mouth.
  4. Clean your gums: Tooth decay doesn’t only start with your teeth. Gum disease can also cause tooth decay and the loss of teeth. Make sure you gently brush and floss on your gum line (between your teeth and gums) to clean away bacteria which could cause gum disease. You should also clean both your outer and inner gum lines for a more effective clean.
  5. Avoid sugary and acidic foods: Foods and drinks such as sweets, chocolates, high-carb foods, sodas, energy drinks, etc. are high in sugar; foods such as tomatoes, pineapples, oranges, etc. have high acid content. These foods and drinks, when consumed in excess, can erode the enamel on your teeth and leave it more vulnerable to bacteria, cavities, gum disease, and infection.
  6. Eat healthy: Include calcium- and phosphorous-rich foods such as dairy, almonds, leafy greens, fish, eggs, etc. to help strengthen your teeth’s enamel.
  7. Visit the dentist regularly: Regular dental visits and cleanings can help keep your teeth healthy and strong. Using special dental tools, your dentist will be able to effectively clean your teeth and remove plaque, tartar, and dirt from all the spaces in your teeth which your home cleaning may miss. Your dentist will also be able to identify any early symptoms of tooth decay and help treat it before it becomes worse.

Taking care of your teeth, gums, and mouth and visiting your dentist regularly will help you avoid tooth decay.

Want to begin your regular dental check-ups with a trusted dentist asap? Book an appointment at Noosa Parade Dental Care today by calling (07) 5474 2655, or book an appointment online. 

Frequently Asked Questions

My teeth are fine. Do I still need to visit the dentist?

It is recommended that you visit the dentist at least once every 6 months, even if your teeth are fine. Skipping regular dental visits can negatively affect your oral health because your dentist is trained to identify problems which you will miss. These regular check-ups can help keep your teeth clean and healthy and prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss.

How can I prevent tooth decay?

Tooth decay can cause bad breath, infection, and tooth loss. To help prevent this, you should:

  1. Clean your teeth daily by brushing for at least 2 minutes twice a day, flossing before bed every day, and using mouthwash to rinse.
  2. Avoid or limit sugary and acidic foods which can erode the enamel in your teeth leaving it more susceptible to bacteria and tooth decay.
  3. Visit the dentist regularly for professional cleanings to remove plaque and tartar which your home cleanings may have missed.
  4. Maintain a healthy diet by eating foods rich in calcium and leafy greens to strengthen your teeth’s enamel.

How is the dental cleaning different from what I do at home?

Whilst your oral care routine at home is very important, professional dental cleanings are just as imperative. Your dentist will use special dental tools to reach all areas and spaces of your mouth to remove built-up plaque, tartar, and bacteria. When cleaning your teeth at home, there may be spaces which you are unable to reach to clean effectively.