One way to keep your teeth healthy and beautiful is to prevent cavities. At Station Park Dentistry, our goal is to help you maintain a happy and healthy smile. We offer many ways in the office and at home to help you improve your oral health and prevent cavities. Some of these ways include dental cleanings, exams, sealants, and good oral hygiene. Keep reading to learn more.
Regular Dental Cleanings
At Station Park Dentistry, we recommend our patients visit our office for a regular dental cleaning every six months. During the dental cleaning, we will scrub your teeth clean. Focusing on potential plaque and tartar build-up, our team of professionals will remove bacteria. This will prevent bacteria from accumulating on the teeth, which can cause acid to build up and cause holes in the teeth. The holes that are formed make decay. When decay accumulates on the tooth, a cavity forms. This cavity, or hole in the tooth, needs to be repaired by the Station Park Dentistry team to prevent it from spreading.
Regular Dental Exam
Another way to prevent cavities is through regular dental exams. Like dental cleanings, we recommend dental exams every six months, usually during the same appointment as your dental cleaning. During the dental exam, your dentist will look for signs of decay and gum disease. If your dentist finds signs of decay or cavities, they will recommend a dental filling. This will prevent the spread of decay to the rest of the healthy tooth. For this reason, it is important to get dental fillings right away.
Sealants
One way to prevent cavities is through a dental procedure called sealants. A sealant is a liquid that is painted over the top of teeth. Usually, sealants are placed on molars that have large grooves and crevices. This is the perfect place for food and bacteria to get stuck and hide. When food and bacteria are stuck in the molars, they form the acid that causes holes to form in the teeth. These holes create cavities. Sealants can help prevent cavities by covering the natural grooves in the molar teeth.
Fluoride
At Station Park Dentistry, we recommend our patients purchase fluoridated toothpaste. Fluoride toothpaste helps strengthen the enamel on the tooth. This is the tooth’s protective layer. If you have strong enamel, it is harder for the bacteria to get into the tooth and cause a cavity. We also recommend a fluoride treatment in-office. This is done at your regular dental appointment.
Good Oral Hygiene
Lastly, one of the best ways to prevent dental cavities is through good oral hygiene at home. Brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash twice a day can prevent the build-up of acid and thus cavities. Remember to brush for two whole minutes in a circular motion. Brush both the teeth and the gum line. Focus on brushing the back molars well; this is where food and bacteria can get trapped. Flossing is just as important as brushing. Flossing removes the bacteria and food from in between your teeth. This is where cavities can begin to form. Finish out the oral hygiene with a swish from your favorite mouthwash. Doing this routine twice a day will improve the health of your mouth.
Cavity Prevention in Farmington, Utah
Good oral hygiene begins with you. At Station Park Dentistry, we are here to help guide you through the oral hygiene process. From dental exams to cleanings to sealants, we are here to improve your oral health. For more information on how Station Park Dentistry can help prevent cavities, call our office.
We look forward to hearing from you.