Smile with Confidence: A Comprehensive Guide to Dental Health and Care

tooth decay

Common Dental Questions, dental care questions and answers, dental health tips, cosmetic and restorative dentistry, dental technology, ask a dentist about tooth decay

The First Cavity

All parents dreams of perfect dental checkups for their children. Every time you send your child off to the dentist, you hope to hear that all-important phrase, “Look, Ma, no cavities!” Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world, and that means that your child may, at times, return from a visit to the dentist with news of one or more cavities. So what do you do when you hear those words… ‘I have a cavity’… for the first time? Is there anything you, as a parent, can do about this cavity, or anything you can do to prevent the next one? The good news about cavities is that they’re virtually always preventable. And, yes, there is a lot you, as a parent, can do to help your child’s next and subsequent dental checkups be cavity-free. Here are some tips from dentists about cavities, how to react to your child’s first cavity, and concrete steps that you, as a parent, can take to prevent further cavities.

Strategies to Avoid Tooth Decay

If eating your favorite foods causes you severe discomfort, then it’s time to visit your dentist. Many American’s suffer from tooth decay and they are completely unaware. Improper dental care will ruin your teeth and cause pain.  If you are someone who is generally good about taking care of your teeth, there are still a few things to know. In fact, there are certain foods that may increase your chances of tooth decay. Here you will learn strategies to avoid tooth decay.

Sugar, the Tooth Killer

Consuming too much sugar can be damaging to your health, but many times we forget how damaging sugar can be to the teeth and mouth in general. About half of kids have tooth decay by the time they are 8 years old. This can lead to a higher risk of developing tooth decay as adults. Each time sugar is consumed, the bacteria on the surface of the teeth converts to acid. This acid basically attacks the teeth and gradually destroys the outer layer of enamel which protects the teeth. This can cause very fast decay of a tooth.

Causes of Tooth Discoloration

Over time many people discover that the pearly white teeth they had in their youth have become discolored. It can become quite unsightly and some people become embarrassed to smile. Once you have discovered that your teeth have become discolored, you can ask your about the treatment options you have available.  Your dentist has many options when it comes to teeth whitening such as an in office tooth whitening, or something as simple as suggesting a change in your diet. If your teeth are discolored you should ask your dentist about the options you have for teeth whitening.

Causes of Dental Pain

Most of us have experienced dental pain in our lives, for one reason or another. But just because everybody’s experienced it, doesn’t make it any less of a drag, especially if you’re the one with the pain. You might even be experiencing dental pain right now, and if you are, you need to find out the cause of that pain. Sure, you just want the pain to go away, but if you don’t find out the cause, you can’t get rid of the pain and, in fact, it’s likely to just get worse. But the potential causes of dental pain are many, and finding the cause of your particular mouth pain probably will take the expertise of a top dentist to find the answers. Following is more information on the varying causes of dental pain, as well as steps you can take to ease the pain or eliminate it altogether.