“You have a cavity.” If you’re like everyone else, you sigh and shake your head a little when your dentist tells you the news. Cavities ruin any day. But it’s not our dentist’s fault, it’s our eating, drinking and dental care habits that have led to a cavity. The worst is when we’ve been working hard to keep cavities away and then one is discovered.
If it’s about habit and discipline, then what can we all do to minimize the formation of cavities? How can we change what our dentist says from, “you have a cavity” to “everything looks great”?
It comes down to choice and a few simple daily habits to keep cavities away:
1. Fill Your Cup with Water
No, water isn’t the most exciting beverage on the planet. It doesn’t attract because of the taste. But water is the ultimate way to keep your mouth clean and healthy. If you’re reaching for sugary beverages like soda, juice and sports drinks throughout the day, you can expect the liquid to leave sugar deposits on your teeth.
With water, there’s no sugar to deposit, which means there are no cavities to form. Also, water is a natural cleanser and liquid to wash away food debris in the mouth. Swish a little around in your mouth after you eat and remove particles between your teeth.
If you can discipline yourself to choose water, you won’t hear your dentist mention cavities as often.
2. Cheese, Are You Serious?
Yes, indeed some researchers and dentists recommend eating cheese because of the nutritional benefits for teeth. Cheese is rich in calcium and casein, a protein that acts as protection for teeth, building stronger teeth.
Since teeth are partly made of calcium, adding calcium to your diet through dairy products like cheese is a great way to strengthen your teeth and keep them healthy. Just be careful with dairy products loaded with sugar—yogurt and ice cream. Cheese is great because of its low sugar content (depending on the kind you consume).
So, next time you make a run to the grocery store, think about grabbing some cheese.
3. Chew Sugar-Free Gum on Occasion
Gum is great for not only ridding yourself of awful breath. Gum causes your mouth to produce saliva, which is great for the health of your teeth. Saliva is a natural tooth cleanser, keeping decay and deposits from adversely affecting your teeth.
This doesn’t mean you need to binge on chewing gum. Instead, keep a pack around so you can chew a piece after a meal or in the afternoon when you’re struggling to stay awake.
And remember to select sugar-free gum; otherwise you’re inviting cavities to set up residence in your teeth if you chew gum with sugar.
So, what are you going to do to take control of your dental woes? Are you going to keep getting cavity fillings or is it time to adjust your habits to keep your teeth cavity-free?
We’re here to help if you have questions or need some guidance about keeping cavities away. Our Birmingham, AL dentist office is your one stop location for everything dental.
Call us today if you have questions—205.991.7797—or submit information through our contact form.
