4 Ways to Prevent Cavities

September 11 2021 by Mills Haven Dental

We all dread cavities, also called tooth decay, but most of us aren’t sure how to prevent them. If you’re someone who feels like every trip to the dentist means you’ll get news of a cavity, keep on reading.

We’re going to go over 4 types of preventative dentistry that will help you avoid cavities.

Practice Great Dental Hygiene

The most important thing you can do to prevent cavities is take care of your oral hygiene. You probably already know that you should floss and brush twice per day, but are you sure you’re brushing and flossing correctly? Here’s our advice.

Brushing

You want to brush your teeth in four sections—upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right—for 30 seconds each. You need to focus on both the outside and inside of each tooth.

Try brushing your teeth at a 45-degree angle and gently stroke next to the gum line (don’t brush too hard)

PRO TIP: Don’t forget your tongue! Start from the back and work towards the tip of your tongue.

Flossing

Floss is easier to control if you pinch it between your thumbs and forefingers. You’ll want to gently glide the floss between two teeth until you reach your gum line. NEVER use a lot of force to get the floss to your gums.

Once at your gum line, form a C-shape around one of your teeth and rub the floss back and forth. Then, rub the floss up and down from the gum line.

PRO TIP: Don’t forget the backside of your molars! That little pocket is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

Skip the Bottle, Drink Tap Water

Since the 1960s, the Edmonton area has been adding fluoride to our water supply. This is an extremely simple and effective way to prevent tooth decay, especially in children.

However, most bottled water does not have fluoride added. Many people find this appealing, but it’s a good thing to drink a little bit of fluoride every day! It will help keep your enamel nice and strong, deterring potential cavities.

Make Your Diet Tooth-Friendly

Every food you eat influences your oral health, whether positive or negative! It’s important to have a diet that moderates foods that are bad for your oral health and includes plenty of cavity-fighting foods.

Foods that can prevent cavities:

Fresh fruits and vegetables
Dairy products (e.g., cheese and yogurt)
Nuts
Seafood

Foods that can encourage cavities:

Dried/candied fruit
Soda
Chips
Hard candy and mints

Regularly Visit Your Dentist

One of the best ways to avoid cavities is to take advantage of regular dentist visits. Your dentist will help you avoid cavities by approaching your dental health from several angles:

Thorough cleanings to remove bacteria-filled plaque.
Fluoride treatments to strengthen enamel.
Oral exams to detect the warning signs of a cavity.
Dental sealant application (a thin protective coating) to protect molars from decay.

You should stop by your dental office at least once or twice per year.