Facts about Tooth Decay
Mary Evans
It goes without saying that the majority of people take great care with how they look. One only has to glance at the television or a magazine to see just how wonderfully grooomed we must strive to be. Our hair must be styled just so, and skin must be cleaned, polished and moisturised. However considering how much care people take with their bodies they often neglect their teeth. The range of products available now is staggering, yet tooth decay is still on the increase.
Our experiences as children at the hands of the dentist often reflect how we care for our teeth in the future. I can remember the awful taste of the fluoride treatments my parents made me have. I always had regular check-ups, yet still my teeth have succumbed to decay. This is not because I looked after teeth as a child, but the fact that this care lapsed in later life. An addiction to anything sweet did not help either.
Brushing our teeth for an insuficient amount of time will lead to small amounts of food stuffs remaining in our mouths, especially around the teeth. Sadly the bacteria in the mouth can feed off this and replicate at an alarming rate. Bacteria produce acid and it is this acid which causes most harm to our teeth. If the bacteria has a large amount of material to "feed" off then it is obvious that there will be more bacteria and, therefore, more acid and, subsequently, more damage to our teeth. Ultimately the acid will cause cavities and, eventually, the tooth may collapse.
Streptococcus Mutans is the name of the bacteria that causes tooth decay. Cavities can appear in teeth in as little as six months, if proper care is not taken of them, or take as long as six years to appear, if more care is taken. The tooth enamel (outer layer of tooth) is hard, whilst the inner tooth is softer. Because the enamel is hard it can take a lot longer for decay to occur but once it does the softer centre of the tooth is exposed and is destroyed a lot quicker.
The tiny space between teeth is where the first signs of decay are usually found. This can be easily treated by using the most effective method around - flossing. It is vital that we still brush our teeth but must follow this with flossing. This has been proved to be the best way clean inbetween teeth thoroughly.
Mouthwash is also an essential part of good dental hygiene. It has an anti-bacterial action as well as freshening breath. The anti-bacterial action fights the bacteria left in the mouth after brushing and flossing, further reducing the chances of decay. Some people do not like the taste of mouthwash but there is such a large choice that there is something to suit everyone's taste.
It is really easy to prevent tooth decay. There is no cast iron guarantee, but surely prevention is better than the treatment. One common reason for tooth decay is not paying special attention to brushing and flossing. Smoking is also a contributor, so do not smoke tobacco. The most common cause is sugar. An excess of fluoride is also a known contributor, not only is fluoride found in dental products but is also added to most water supplies.
If we all followed these guidelines and looked after our teeth properly then our chances of cavities are greatly reduced. We must not forget the other effects of bad dental hygiene, bad breath, pain, discomfort and gum disease.
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