Avon Dentistry - Prevent Tooth Decay

Contrary to popular belief, cavities are not caused solely by eating too many sugary foods and not brushing enough. Many people who have a high carbohydrate diet never get cavities while others who do not consume many sugary foods continue to get cavities year after year. Cavities are caused my multiple factors in the mouth including diet, dental hygiene habits and the most important, the type and concentration of bacteria found in the mouth.

Excessive amounts of specific cavity-causing bacteria can result in tooth decay even if a patient has good dental hygiene and a low-sugar diet. And this issue is more important now than ever because people are investing in keeping their teeth healthy like never before. We are finding that while new cavities in teeth are on the decline in America, there is an alarming increase in the amount of tooth decay forming underneath old dental fillings and crowns. This type of decay is usually painless and it gradually infects the nerve of the tooth over time, increasing the need for a future root canal. Preventing tooth decay from eroding the integrity of dental work is absolutely essential to protecting the health of teeth long-term.

Of course brushing and flossing are important ingredients and are needed to maintaining oral health. But these activities may not completely prevent dental decay. Recent research has demonstrated that higher levels of aggressive cavity-causing bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans and Lacobacillus are the culprits. These bacteria efficiently convert sugars to lactic acid that gradually erodes the tooth enamel over time, even under dental work. Studies show that these cavity causing bacteria accumulate in a sticky, clear substance on the teeth called the biofilm. Even if you brush and floss, this biofilm can quickly re-form on the teeth. If untreated and undiagnosed, progressive steps of decay may occur and lead to the need for extensive dental work and even nerve damage leading to root canals or even tooth loss.

Fortunately today, this problem can be diagnosed and treated with prescription oral rinses designed specifically to target these cavity-causing bacteria that form in the mouth every day. Such therapeutic rinses, when combined with proper home-care techniques and professional supervision and maintenance by the dental hygienist can reduce levels of the harmful bacteria to the point where decay no longer threatens teeth.