Best Ways to Prevent Cavities and Keep Your Teeth Healthy
Verified By
KIMS-SUNSHINE
Specialist,
12 March, 2025
More than 50% of the Indian population has never been to a dentist. This points to a large, but hidden problem with respect to oral health and its importance. Most of us don’t bother to brush twice, or even floss and eat whatever we want, thinking there won’t be any consequences. But, when you combine all these factors, you get a conducive environment for more bacterial growth in the mouth- resulting in a higher risk of getting cavities. A cavity is a small hole that initially begins to form on the surface of your tooth, which gets deeper, if not taken care of immediately. Formed due to acids produced by bacteria, this hole can go much deeper and get pretty large in size, with continued infestation.
Early Signs Of Cavities And How To Stop Them-
Cavities normally form due to decaying teeth, which means you may face one or all of the symptoms mentioned below-
- You may notice a whitish or creamish looking spot on your teeth- a slight discolouration which means there is mineral loss.
- You may not be able to drink or eat hot, cold or sugary foods normally. You will notice sensitivity.
- You may have pain or a tingly feeling when you have something sweet
- You may have dark coloured stains on the surface of your teeth.
Most of your tooth related issues are pretty preventable if you brush twice a day, for longer than 2 minutes with the right kind of toothpaste. Flossing is your best friend, so don’t forget to do that daily either. You can also make sure to drink normal water as it has plenty of fluoride in it. Visiting the dentist every 6 months should be on your agenda too, and not only when you have a cavity or painful symptoms.
Best Foods To Eat For Strong Teeth And Cavity Prevention-
A normal diet with plenty of veggies and fruits, nuts, and nothing overly sweet should be a constant everyday. You can also have your favourite drink like coffee or chai, but make sure not to sweeten them. Most importantly, after you are done drinking or eating anything, make sure to rinse out your mouth properly with water. This will ensure that food particles don’t stay stuck between the teeth, while also affording some protection against acidity from drinks or sweets or anything else you may consume. It also helps prevent bad breath related issues. Drinking plenty of water is also a great idea when it comes to reinforcing oral hygiene.
Conclusion
The key to good oral health is consistency and NOT overdoing it as that is harmful too. You need to ideally brush twice a day, once in the morning and once at night, though you can brush again after meals if needed. But, it is not recommended because you are effectively rubbing those food acids on to the teeth surface deeper, so never brush immediately after a meal. About an hour later is fine. You should also floss daily to get food articles that are stuck between your teeth, out of their hiding spots. If they hide long enough, they can form tartar and even plaque which can harden and will need to be scaled away. Normal brushing will not do the trick in such cases. Using mouthwash is also a good idea to rinse out any food particles. Oil pulling has been recommended these days for its ability to help prevent cavities but it cannot help if you already have a cavity. This is the best oral hygiene routine to prevent tooth decay that you can follow. It is simple and not too complicated, right?
