How Your Choices Affect Your Cavity Risks

how-your-choices-affect-your-cavity-riskA cavity forms as the result of progressive damage to your enamel. While a tooth is capable of recovering from slighter damage, a cavity demands restorative work your dentist can provide. You can influence how likely you are to develop a cavity with your regular actions. Some of those actions can be obvious – if you want healthy teeth, make sure you are brushing and flossing effectively. You should also be sure to reach out and see your dentist for regular exams. That being said, you can take your preventive dental care a step further by making sure your diet and daily habits are not doing unnecessary harm to your teeth.

The Impact Of Your Diet And Your Daily Habits

Your diet can absolutely sway your likelihood of having a cavity form. If you are careless about how much sugar is packed into your regular diet, you can cause more of the dental damage that leads to cavities. Some diet issues might be less obvious. For instance, not staying hydrated can cause you to produce less saliva – because saliva helps clean teeth and neutralize oral bacteria, this leaves you with less oral health protection. Habits also matter – if you do a sub par job brushing and flossing (or if you neglect one or both tasks) you face a greater cavity risk.

Seeing Your Dentist Regularly Can Help Lower Your Dental Risks

At each checkup with your dentist, you will receive a detailed dental cleaning from your hygienist. This is an opportunity to have any tartar on your teeth removed. Tartar is too stubborn to remove without professional help; brushing and flossing alone will not help.