Preventing cavities and keeping your mouth healthy at any age
Regardless of your age, no one wants a cavity. Cavities are expensive, require another trip to the dentist and make for a pretty inconvenient day. Preventing cavities isn’t impossible and some people go their entire life and never have one. Others, however, seem to have more than their fair share, but what’s the best way to avoid cavities and what’s the best plan of action if you get one?A local dentist, Dr. Myriam Raber, said there are really no average number of cavities to expect in a lifetime, but there are certain teeth that are more prone than others to cavities.
“The most common teeth to have cavities are the molars,” Raber said. “They have deeper grooves and people tend not to clean their back teeth as well as their front teeth.”
Good dental hygiene starts in childhood and Raber often tells parents that they need to brush their children’s teeth at bedtime from the time the first tooth erupts, around 6 months, until that child can write fairly well.
“The skills needed for proper oral hygiene are the same ones needed for proper handwriting,” she said. “In Holmes and Wayne counties, I see a lot of early childhood decay because parents either do not help with bedtime brushing, or, many times, they do not even provide a toothbrush to their child until he or she is school age.”
When it comes to cavities and tooth decay, Raber notices an increase around the teen years. She blames this on the diet habits that teenagers sometimes develop.
“I see a rise in decay again in the teenage years due to the poor eating and drinking habits of that age group,” she said. “Frequent snacking and a lot of beverages other than water are big among teens. All packaged beverages are harmful to teeth, including diet soda, sports drinks and even flavored water. Teenagers often stay up late snacking and then fall asleep with leftover food particles and unbrushed dental plaque on their teeth.”
Another time in life when Raber notices an increase in tooth decay is among grown women after they start their families. She thinks this probably relates to the many changes a woman goes through when she becomes a mother.
“I see another spike in women after they start having children,” she said. “This is due to the change in lifestyle. They eat and snack on the run and often are so tired taking care of the children that they do not take the time for proper oral hygiene or regular dental visits.”
People in their 40s and 50s tend to have receding gums, which often expose the roots of the teeth and make the area more susceptible to decay. Raber said that certain medications taken by older individuals can also alter the saliva produced in the mouth, which can cause problems as well.
Even though different problems are experienced at different ages, Raber believes that everyone can improve their dental health by adopting good habits.
“Thorough daily brushing, flossing and, for many, inter-proximal brushing with special toothbrushes can make a big difference,” she said. “Regular dental visits according to each person’s specific need are also very important. Most people need to go to the dentist twice a year. A few only need yearly visits and a good number need to be seen three or four times per year. Each individual’s risk needs to be assessed.”
Raber also said that everyone needs to use fluoridated toothpaste, and for those at higher risk, fluoride varnish applications should be given at regular dental visits. There are also additional prescription products that can be used at home between visits.
“Every patient should feel free to bring up any dental concerns to their medical doctor as he or she is reviewing their medications,” Raber added. “Every day physicians are discovering what dentists have known for decades: that the mouth is part of the body and what affects the mouth affects the general health and vice versa. Make time to thoroughly clean your mouth at least once a day and always at bedtime. There are no irreversible damages from not combing your hair or not applying makeup but chronic dental neglect has irreversible consequences. You must take care of your teeth and gums.”
If a person neglects their mouth and teeth it can lead to a loss of their natural teeth. Unfortunately, losing teeth can impact other areas of our life.
“Without natural teeth we tend to eat softer, less nutritious food,” Raber explained. “Teeth are what maintain the bone in our jaws. Loss of bone in the jaws can cause jaw fractures in old age. There is also the social impact. People with healthy attractive smiles do have an edge in the job market, especially if the job description involves direct customer service.”
Raber suggests using any toothpaste that carries the seal of the American Dental Association, because the ADA does not “sell” the seal. Companies must earn it through rigorous testing to prove their claims are true. There are also prescription products available at the pharmacy or at dental offices that are even more effective than the over-the-counter toothpastes.
Dental health needs to be an important part of your overall health. Many times it is overlooked or placed rather low on the list of priorities for many individuals. The mouth, teeth and gums are all linked to the body and impact your health in more ways than you realize. Be smart and make dental hygiene an important part of your everyday life!