It’s a simple fact that our teeth are one part of our bodies that don’t regenerate; when you lose natural dental material, it is lost for good. Now, that doesn’t mean that you have to live forever with dental damage; there are restorative treatments that use materials like composite resin and porcelain to repair teeth. However, as you would imagine, it’s always better to avoid this type of damage in the first place, rather than addressing it after the fact.
That’s why our Toluca Lake dentists are here to share some information one tooth decay and cavities. Once you understand how these issues develop, you’ll be empowered to protect your smile.
The first thing to understand is that your mouth is full of bacteria! I know, it sounds kind of gross, but it’s unavoidable. Some of these bacteria are harmful, and weaken dental enamel as well as oral tissues.
The bacteria in your mouth feed on sugars and refined carbohydrates; these substances allow bacteria to grow and multiply. As bacteria feed and spread, they release acids, and lead to enamel demineralization.
Your dentist encourages you to clean your mouth every morning and night to keep bacteria-laden plaque at bay. Plaque develops continually, so it is equally important that you clean your smile on a regular basis.
We know that bacteria and acids demineralize enamel, but there also ways to remineralize and strengthen teeth. Saliva, for example, is your body’s natural way of remineralizing dental enamel. With this in mind, an important thing that you can do to minimize your risk of developing decay is to drink plenty of water and rinse your mouth with water in order to prompt saliva production.
Our Toluca Lake dentists are your partners in dental care, we’re here to help you develop a dental care plan that discourages plaque production and decay. Give us a call to schedule a consultation!