We want to help you avoid cavities, which can cause toothaches and even lead to infection without treatment. But often, good oral hygiene can help you avoid issues like tooth decay and keep your smile bright! In today’s blog, your Sunny Smiles team talks about tooth decay prevention!
The Causes of a Cavity
How does a cavity form in your smile? The outer enamel protects your tooth, but when this layer is compromised, harmful oral bacteria can reach the inner dentin and cause a cavity to form, one that will grow and increase the risk of infection without treatment. The enamel could be weakened by plaque buildup, which is often brought on by poor brushing and flossing habits and a diet low in sugar and starch. An injury to the tooth or teeth grinding could also be a factor. When you experience toothaches, please see us right away for a filling. But we can also offer care to help reduce the risk of a cavity!
Prevention with Cleanings
Every six months we want to see you for a dental checkup, and during this visit we will conduct a dental cleaning. The cleaning procedure involves the use of an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual tool to gently and thoroughly break up and remove all plaque and tartar buildup. We then polish the smile to make it more difficult for these layers to form again before your next cleaning. The process helps lower the risk of tooth decay, as well as gingivitis, gum disease, bad breath, and even teeth stains. If you have high risk factors for issues like gum disease, we may recommend one every three to four months.
Treatment with Fillings
Now, if we find a cavity in your smile, we can offer relief in only one visit. A dental filling involves numbing the tooth, removing the decay, and then adding the filling material. Instead of metal, we will use a composite resin that is metal-free and safe for all ages. The material can be shaded to blend with your tooth and look natural too. In a single sitting, we stop your decay from becoming an infection that threatens smile stability!
Prevention at Home
You can also take steps from home to lower the risk of cavities. For example, try to cut back on the sugar and starch in your diet, so you avoid feeding harmful oral bacteria to create plaque and tartar buildup. You can also help limit the severity of your plaque buildup by brushing and flossing, removing these food and drink particles daily.
Talk to Our Team About a Dental Checkup
If you have an aching tooth, then you need care for a cavity. You can call Sunny Smiles in El Paso, TX, at 915.759.7000 to talk to our team about this.