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WHAT is five times more prevalent than asthma, seven times more common than hay fever, it is linked to diabetes as well as heart disease, it is the #1 chronic disease in US children, and more common than childhood obesity, asthma and diabetes?

Just one, over a lifetime, can cost as much as $2000. The good news is that it is preventable and it can start with you.

Have I perked your attention?  So, what is this enemy you ask?  It is your unfriendly and unwanted dental cavity.  

To understand how to fight and prevent a cavity, I would like to give you a better understanding of the enemy. When talking about the health of the mouth we are talking about Oral Health.

Oral Health is not just referring to the teeth, but to the overall health and prevention of conditions and diseases throughout our mouth.  The mouth includes teeth, gums, tongue, lips as well as our hard and soft palate, the lining of the mouth and throat, the salivary glands, the upper and lower jaws, and the muscles that help us chew. Good oral health begins with what we put in our mouths, specifically nutritionally.  The types, quality and amounts of foods ingested have the ability to diminish our oral health. Poor diet and poor nutrition can prolong healing and worsen symptoms that accompany mouth conditions such as dental caries (cavities), dry mouth and oral cancer. To keep your teeth and gums healthy: 

• Brush your teeth twice a day.

• Choose fluoride tooth paste & mouthwash with the American Dental Association (ADA)Seal.

• Floss daily to reduce the amount of plaque on the teeth and gums.

• Rinse with fluoride mouthwash before flossing, to work in the fluoride between the teeth.

• Choose a toothbrush with soft bristles.

• Replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months. Bacteria can begin to grow on the bristles.

• Brush your tongue and roof of mouth to freshen your breath.

• Visit your dentist twice a year to help fight gum disease.

It is recommended that you establish a relationship with a dentist and have regular check-ups (every six months), whether you have all or your teeth or you wear dentures.  Regular visits to the dentist can provide early detection or prevention of oral health problems. Mouth lesions, bone loss, and other conditions in the mouth may be the first sign of trouble in other parts of the body.  

Our next blog will explain how cavities begin physically and culturally.