Exceptional Dental Care
Patient Advice
Preventing Dental Decay
What is tooth decay?
Tooth decay occurs when bacteria in your mouth come into contact with sugars in your food making an acid. This acid attacks the tooth’s surface. When a tooth is repeatedly exposed to acid, such as when you frequently consume sugary foods and drinks, this can lead to a hole in a tooth called a cavity. Over time if not treated it can lead to pain, infection and even loss of the tooth.
How can you help prevent tooth decay?
Remove plaque thoroughly from all tooth surfaces by brushing your teeth twice daily (last thing before bed and on one other occasion). Angle the bristles of the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle towards the gum line and use small circular motions. Do not scrub the toothbrush back and forth. Be sure to brush all surfaces of the teeth. Use floss, a water flosser or interdental brushes to clean between the teeth, where cavities often develop. Your dentist can show you how to introduce flossing or interdental brushing into your daily routine. Ensure you are using the correct size of interdental brushes for your teeth. If you are not sure what size to use, ask your dentist or dental hygienist. If you would like to check the effectiveness of your daily brushing, discuss using disclosing tablets with your dentist or oral hygienist. Make sure you use a toothpaste with the appropriate level of fluoride twice daily. Try to reduce the amount of sugar in your diet – especially between meals. If you suffer from a dry mouth, possibly due to medication, talk to your dentist or hygienist. Mouth rinses can provide extra fluoride but do not replace the need to brush and floss your teeth daily. Mouth rinses are not recommended for children under 6 years of age.
Oral Cancer
Mouth cancer can appear in different forms and can affect all parts of the mouth. It can appear as a painless ulcer that doesn’t heal normally. A persistent white or red patch can also develop into cancer. If you notice such an area that doesn’t heal, please contact us to have it assessed immediately. Smoking and alcohol are both risk factors for oral cancer. If you need help to stop smoking, please visit www.stopsmokingni.info for more information.