Newsletter Issue 2 - Prevention

If your teeth were impervious to decay, dentists would be out of business. However, teeth do decay and that is why you need a few pointers as to what causes tooth decay.

Dental care
Good dental hygiene is essential to stave off tooth decay. Brushing, flossing and rinsing regularly should be part of your regime. Twice a day, in the morning and before bedtime is sufficient though ideally it would be best to brush after every meal or whenever you eat sweet foods. However, this is not practical for most people.

Tooth decay occurs when the bacteria in the mouth produce the acids that cause damage to the enamel part of the teeth. This damage leads to holes and cavities in the teeth.

Brushing teeth regularly helps control plaque build up around the teeth. This plaque is a breeding ground for bacteria and stores concentrated acids that can stay in your mouth for hours. The less plaque means fewer bacteria so less tooth decay. Good dental hygiene reduces that plaque.

Diet
Sugars and starches are very appealing to the bacteria in your mouth. The bacteria attack and turn the food to acid this can cause tooth decay. Worse still, if you don't floss it is likely you may have hidden food trapped between your teeth for some time.

Fluoride Deficiency
Fluoride helps fight and prevent tooth decay. New South Wales has fluoridation of the water supply to help protect your teeth but many people are staying away from tap water and are drinking bottled water. Queensland does not have water fluoridation so locals are often found to be fluoride deficient. Fluoride is also found in most toothpastes and in certain cases, fluoride tablets are also available.

Smoking
Cigarette smoking is a well-known problem for health. This also includes dental health. Smoking can negatively affect your teeth and cause decay. This is also true of any tobacco products that are consumed and even passive smoking. By not smoking and staying away from smoke you are maintaining your dental health.

Drinking Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages are high in sugar and again this assists the bacteria in tooth decay.

Now you should be armed with enough information to help you understand tooth decay. Now it is up to you to put this information into action and prevent it from happening.

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