American Medical Association Family Medical Guide - American Medical Association [789]
If you have young children, do not put them to bed with a bottle of milk, juice, or any other liquid that contains sugar. These liquids coat the teeth, promoting tooth decay. Your dentist will probably recommend that your children have topical fluoride treatments to prevent tooth decay every year starting at about age 3 to 4, even if your community’s water supply is fluoridated.
Your dentist may recommend applying a clear plastic sealant to the biting surfaces of your teeth or your child’s teeth to help prevent decay. The sealant provides a physical barrier that helps keep the teeth, particularly the molars, free of bacteria. To apply sealant to a tooth, the dentist cleans and polishes the biting surface of the tooth with a brush and then applies etching gel to the biting surface of the tooth to enable the sealant to bond to the tooth. He or she dries the tooth, brushes sealant into the grooves of the tooth, and aims a light wand at the sealant that causes it to harden immediately. The dentist examines the bite to make sure the sealant is not too thick. If it is, he or she will carefully buff the sealant down with a dental drill.
Once the sealant is set, a person can eat and drink as usual. The sealant will protect the treated areas of the teeth from cavities for about 5 years, but it will not protect untreated areas, such as the area between the teeth. Daily brushing and flossing and regular dental checkups and cleanings will still be necessary and will allow the dentist to examine the sealant and repair any chips or cracks.
Untreated tooth decay
Keeping Your Teeth and Gums Healthy
Even if you avoid foods and drinks that contain sugar and other simple carbohydrates, it is hard to avoid at least some tooth decay. However, you can keep tooth decay to a minimum and keep your teeth healthy by taking the following simple steps:
• Brush your teeth thoroughly with a fluoride toothpaste for at least 2 to 3 minutes at least twice a day, every day. Use dental floss every day to remove food particles and plaque from places you cannot reach with your toothbrush, such as between teeth and near the gum line. Your dentist or hygienist will show you how to brush and floss your teeth.
Brushing your teeth
Squeeze a pea-sized portion of toothpaste onto your toothbrush. As you brush, place your toothbrush at an angle, start at the gums, and gently move the brush back and forth, away from the gum line. Carefully brush the front, back, and chewing surfaces of each tooth. Use a soft-bristled brush to prevent damage to your gums. Do not push down too hard on the brush; let the bristles do the work. Gently massaging the gums with your toothbrush stimulates circulation and helps keep them healthy. Softly brushing your tongue will remove bacteria and help freshen your breath. An electric toothbrush helps you clean your teeth thoroughly while stimulating the gums. Replace your toothbrush or the brush head from your electric toothbrush every few weeks.
• Cut back on sweets, avoid eating between meals, and eat a balanced diet. Snacking on candy and other sugary foods and refined carbohydrates between meals is especially harmful because the bacteria in your mouth that break down these types of foods produce an acid that can dissolve tooth enamel. Try to avoid eating sugary foods completely. Avoid fruit roll-ups and other gummy snacks and candies that stick to the teeth. Have nuts or low-fat cheese for dessert instead of ice cream or cake. Cheese is especially good at neutralizing the acid that attacks teeth.
• Strengthen your tooth enamel with fluoride. Tap water in many communities contains added fluoride as a public health measure to help prevent cavities.
Flossing your teeth
Dental floss is a special thread that you slide between your teeth to remove plaque and food particles. To floss your teeth properly, take about 18 inches of floss and wind some of