Maintaining Good Oral Hygiene
Ensuring you brush your teeth regularly is key to maintaining good oral hygiene. The less you brush your teeth the more likely that any remaining food particles are able to find areas to cling onto the surfaces of your teeth and gums. If left untreated this can then lead to tooth decay.
What is Tooth Decay?
Tooth decay is when the outer coating of the tooth (known as the enamel) starts to erode away and is no longer reminiscent of the original tooth.
How Does Tooth Decay occur?
Tooth decay occurs when remaining food particles are left in the mouth. The most damaging are traces of food which are high in carbohydrates. This is due to their sugary, starchy nature. Along with the saliva in your mouth, the food particles form a damaging cocktail that clings to any crevices in your teeth and starts to eat away at the surface of the enamel. The resulting damage then leads to tooth decay and cavities forming (holes in the teeth).This can easily be avoided by brushing your teeth at least twice a day with a suitable toothpaste.
What are the symptoms of tooth decay?
There are various warning signs to look out for with regard to tooth decay. Spotting these symptoms early can help prevent further problems from developing as well.
- Any persistent tooth pain
- Teeth feeling extremely sensitive
- Bad breath which is unusual for you
- Sudden spots forming on your teeth that are either grey, brown, or black in colour
- Experiencing an unpleasant taste in your mouth that does not disappear
How to Prevent Tooth Decay From Occurring
You need to brush your teeth at least twice daily, ideally with toothpaste such as Colgate. In between brushing, it is also important to floss and use a mouthwash. It is advisable not to use mouthwash directly after brushing as this will flush away any fluoride that can help protect the surface enamel.
The foods you eat also contribute to good dental hygiene. Consuming as few sugary foods and drinks as possible will be ideal to prevent any particles from attacking the surface of your teeth.
You can discuss with your dentist about having dental sealants applied to the surfaces of your molars (which is a protective coating made from plastic) that helps prevent food from clinging on.
Ensuring you drink plenty of water each day will also help flush away any remaining food in your mouth.
How Colgate Duraphat 5000 Can Help Prevent Tooth Decay
All toothpastes contain Fluoride as an active ingredient. It helps to effectively clean your teeth and ensure the enamel coating is as strong as possible to deter any acidic damage from food and drinks. Colgate Duraphat 5000 toothpaste provides the highest level of protection possible with its high Fluoride content. This is particularly useful for those that are easily prone to tooth decay and will help to slow down this process and restore your enamel protection.
