Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Delay the Inevitable: Ways to Protect Your Tooth Enamel from Bacteria and Acids

Tooth decay, also known as dental caries, is expected among individuals who have poor oral hygiene. The risk of having tooth decay is prevented if you practice oral health care regimen like tooth brushing twice a day, flossing and regular dental check up. Another proven effective way to avoid this kind of disorder is by having moderate exposure to fluoride and moderate consumption of cariogenic dishes. Tooth erosion happens as people get older. It is due to frequent exposure to acid that reduces tooth enamel, which is the protective covering of the teeth. Loss of enamel eventually leads to tooth wear as well as teeth grinding. These disorders can lead to chronic conditions and may affect your overall state of health. Aside from affecting your physical health, it can also affect your psychological health as poor oral hygiene can lower your self-confidence. Without a doubt, being diagnosed with certain oral diseases are both social and financial burdens.

Tooth decay occurs when there is bacterial infection. Bacteria types like Lactobacilli and Streptococci are transmissible species through direct physical contact. These bacteria are the number one suspects for causing tooth decay as they produce acids unhealthy to the teeth. They ferment carbohydrates like sugars from food and drink to form acids that dissolve minerals from the teeth like phosphate and calcium. Thus, it weakens the teeth and allows bacteria to grow there until infection occurs. However, keep in mind that tooth decay is inevitable and saliva is a great help in clearing food residues from the mouth and neutralizes acids produced by bacteria. Saliva is also a good support in providing more minerals to your tooth, or the process called re-mineralization. This is why it is important for individuals who take medications that are reducing saliva flow to consult their dentists about alternative ways to keep their saliva flow balanced and normal.

If you live in Illinois, consult Springfield IL dentists as they are known for providing advanced dental care services. A skilled dentist can educate you about your susceptibility to tooth decay as it varies depending on the teeth of an individual. Other factors that can make you susceptible to dental caries include quality and quantity of saliva, structure of the teeth and shape of jaw. Some people possess teeth that have fissures, allowing acids and bacteria to penetrate the tooth easily.

Springfield dental offices have a team of highly experienced dentists who will help you design solutions appropriate for your oral health. They can also give you tips on how to brush your teeth properly and will educate you on the role of fluoride tooth paste in promoting re-mineralization of the tooth. Fluoride strengthens and hardens your tooth enamel that can make acid soluble instead of dissolving your tooth. This also means that putting the proper amount of fluoride can make a difference as it helps control the occurrence of dental caries. Aside from tooth paste, you can find fluoride in specially made beverages as supplement for your dental health regimen.

1 comment:

  1. Our dentist in Springfield will make your visits more comfortable and as pleasant as possible. Our dentist strongly believe that patients comfort is an integral part of quality dental care. Our professional team of dentist take proper precautions of each problem and thanks for sharing such informative article on different steps to protect teeth enamel from bacteria and acids.

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