Facts about Tooth Decay

by: MaryEvans
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Word Count: 595

Every time we look at the TV we are shown images of glamorous, gorgeous people, and the ordinary person can feel presssured to achieve the same standards. A lot of people assume that good hair and skin care routines are the answer to achieving these standards, a lot of people also forget the most essential thing to looking good - a healthy smile. A good dental care routine should be top of everyone's list, but it is obvious this is not always the case. Tooth decay instead of declining is still on the increase.

Good dental hygiene must be a lifelong committment. As a child, my parents took me to see the dentist regularly. I also received regular fluoride treatment, which was not a very pleasant experience. However, all this was to of been in vain as my teeth are not something which I am very proud of. This is all my own fault and nothing to do with my parents. I have an extremely sweet tooth and this along with lapses in my dental routine have proven to be my downfall.

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.

The name of this harmful bacteria is "Streptococcus Mutans". The occurrence of decay does not happen overnight, it can take quite a long time as the outside layer of the tooth (enamel) is hard while the inside is soft. It can take years for the bacteria to attack and wear away the enamel, once this has happened the centre of the tooth is attacked and because of it's texture succumbs to decay a lot quicker.

Dentists will tell you that the most common place for cavities to first appear is inbetween the teeth. The good news is that with proper care and attention this need not be the case. As well as brushing teeth, it is extremely important that we all floss. Flossing is the best way of removing food that has become trapped in the small gap between teeth.

Cavities and tooth decay can be kept at bay in many ways. One of these ways is the regular use of mouthwash. Bacteria and acids are reduced by the use of mouthwash as it has an anti-bacterial action. It is not just used for its breath freshening properties.

Avoiding tooth decay can be quite simple, just try to avoid all the culprits. Try to remove as much sugar from ones diet as possible, not forgetting that a lot of foods have hidden sugars. Do not take fluoride tablets as it is present in most water supplies, and also in found in toothpaste. Too much fluoride can be as harmful as too little. Don't smoke as this has been found to increase the risks of tooth decay. Last but not least, not brushing and flossing teeth are the main contributors to cavities.

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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To find out more about tooth care and such things as teeth whitening visit http://www.teeth-whitening4u.com/  

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