Cavities or dental caries are holes or small opening that are caused due to tooth decay. The basic reason behind cavities is the build-up of plaques and bacteria on the surface of your teeth. As a result of poor dental hygiene, carbohydrates in food items such as bread, cake, candies or cereal gets accumulated on your teeth. The bacterias then turn them into acids, which causes tooth decay. This further results in the formation of a black pit on your tooth, and it eventually turns into the cavity. If not treated on time, the cavities can cause serious damage to your teeth and may even result to tooth extraction or root canal as both the enamel (outer coating of a tooth) and the dentin (inner layer) are affected.
If you or your family member is suffering from cavities, even the slightest of symptoms, it’s wise to see your dentist as soon as possible. But until you pay him a visit, here are a few tips from the best dentists in Surrey that can help you deal with the cavities.
- Brush Regularly, Twice A Day: It’s no brainer that brushing your teeth regularly can help you avoid dental problems. Make it a habit to brush your teeth twice a day on a regular basis. This will help you avoid any deposition of food particles on the tooth infected with cavities and remove the plaque build-up around the teeth. Also, the components in toothpaste can be helpful to check the growth of bacteria from causing any further damage.
- Use Mouthwashes: While brushing is helpful, it’s difficult to cover all the nooks and corners of your mouth. And when you are suffering from the pain of cavities, you tend to avoid brushing too hard on the infected teeth as it causes more pain. In such cases, it is advisable to use mouthwash with anti-bacterial formula. Rinsing for about two to three minutes after the lunch and dinner can help you get rid of any food particles from the existing cavity as well as every corner of your mouth. It ensures that cavities are kept clean until you visit your dentist for proper treatment. There are a lot of options available for mouthwashes, look for the one that comes with anti-cavity protection.
- Dental Flossing Can Be Helpful: Even after brushing and ringing, there are some sticky foodstuff or plaque that is difficult to clean out. In such cases, you can use dental floss, a thin filament that is inserted between your teeth to scrape off the unwanted particles and plaque. A little extra effort while brushing can be really helpful to check the growth of cavities.
- Avoid Certain Food Items: Our diet plays an important role in maintaining proper dental hygiene as well as avoiding any further issues. If you are suffering from cavities, it’s better to avoid sweets, candies, and chocolates as they tend to stick on your teeth and rankle the nerve endings. Also, you should stay away from too hot or cold liquids as it can cause pain. Follow a healthy diet and consume fruits rich with vitamins. They can be really helpful.
- Change Your Eating And Drinking Habits: When you are suffering from cavities, your affected teeth tend to be more sensitive and weak. They are more prone to damage than regular teeth. It’s better to avoid chewing food form the infected teeth as it may break the wall hollow teeth and cause a considerable amount of pain and irreparable damage. If you have your left side teeth infected, try to chew from the right side instead. Also, avoid drinking hot or cold beverages from the infected side of your mouth.
Dealing with the pain: If you follow the above steps, you can surely avoid any further damage to your valuable teeth, but at the same time, you should know how to deal with the pain caused due to the cavities. You can use topical analgesic like Orajel to get immediate relief, or even use clove oil as an alternate option.
All these are short term solutions. In order to make sure you do not encounter any further problems, look for a good dentist in Surrey or wherever you reside and book an appointment today.
