At Arizona Smile Designers, we work hard to provide our patients with the necessary tools and knowledge to prevent cavities and keep their teeth strong and healthy. Our family dentists and staff in Cottonwood, AZ like to practice preventive dentistry but are prepared to help patients with restorative and cosmetic dentistry where necessary. To practice proactive preventive dentistry, talk to your family dentist about your oral hygiene routine, diet, and teeth cleanings.
Typically, cavities are not reversible. If a cavity is caught in its earliest stages of demineralization, then it can be reversed. Unfortunately, most cavities are caught when they are past this point. Once a cavity has progressed through the tooth enamel, it can not be reversed. However, you can prevent tooth decay from worsening and prevent future cavities from forming.
In order for a cavity to form, two things must be present in your mouth: bacteria and sugar. Our mouths naturally house a number of different types of bacteria, some good and some bad. The bad bacteria feed on sugar and break it down into acid which causes tooth decay. Sugar is introduced through the foods we eat and the beverages we drink. Although brushing and flossing help remove bacteria from our teeth, if we aren’t eating foods low in sugar, we may not be able to prevent the majority of our cavities.
The three most important things you can do to prevent cavities include eating a healthy diet, brushing twice daily and flossing once daily, and seeing your family dentist every six months. A healthy diet consists of foods low in sugar, low in fat, and unprocessed. To practice eating a healthy diet, you should eat at set meal times and avoid snacking. Oral health is also extremely important to prevent cavities. At Arizona Smile Designers, we recommend brushing at least twice per day, but it wouldn’t hurt to brush your teeth after you eat lunch as well. Finally, you should visit your Cottonwood dentist twice a year for a check-up and teeth cleaning.
To confirm you do not have any active cavities, schedule teeth cleaning appointments with Arizona Smile Designers. Our staff and the family dentist will clean your teeth and check for any abnormalities including tooth decay. We look forward to seeing you soon!
