Tooth pain or sensitivity can interfere with your ability to complete certain tasks. Thankfully, you can rely on a respected provider of dental care for your family in Burlington, ON, for treatments and procedures necessary to correct your dental issues. Your dentist can work with you to prevent the formation of dental cavities. Although you should see your dentist regularly for a scheduled cleaning, you can combat tooth decay in your home.
What are Dental Cavities?
Cavities are holes in your teeth that result from tooth decay. Regardless of your age, you can develop cavities if you don’t take oral hygiene seriously. For a lot of patients, dental cavities develop because of the foods they eat and poor oral hygiene habits.
But your dentist can easily treat dental cavities with tooth-colored fillings to restore your healthy smile. They will get rid of the decay first and treat a tooth’s affected area. With a tooth-colored dental filling, you can smile with confidence as you don’t worry about the treatment being obvious.
How to Know You Have Cavities
Depending on the size and the location of the cavity, your symptoms can vary. In some instances, dental cavities are small enough to present symptoms. Typically, your dentist can catch small cavities during your regular checkups. Common signs of cavities include pain when you bite down, teeth sensitivity, toothache, serious staining on the affected tooth, and tooth holes or pits. If you think you have any of these symptoms, book an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. When not treated right away, a cavity can become bigger and deeper, possibly requiring a tooth extraction over time.
How to Prevent Dental Cavities from Developing
On top of your regular dental cleanings and checkups, you must care for your mouth at home. Here are the steps you can take:
- Practice good oral hygiene habits. Brushing and flossing are important steps to get rid of plaque that may have formed on your teeth. When not removed, plaque can harden and become tartar, which cannot be removed by just brushing your teeth. In addition, rinse your mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash.
- Use toothpaste with fluoride. Fluoride rebuilds any weakened enamel and reverses early tooth decay. Your dentist can also determine if you need fluoride treatment.
- Don’t skip your dental appointments. Make sure you see your dentist every six months to get your teeth thoroughly cleaned and examined by a dentist. Your dentist can get rid of any tartar buildup to prevent decay and fill cavities with fillings during your appointment.