If you were asked to name the most common disease in the world, you probably wouldn’t come up with tooth decay. While not life-threatening, tooth decay in Bowmanville is still a real problem and can lead to time off work or school and can significantly affect quality of life.
The most effective way to treat tooth decay is to remove the decay and replace the damaged part of the tooth with a filling. However, ideally, we would prefer to prevent this disease from occurring using holistic dental care in Newcastle, assessing why someone is getting cavities and reducing this risk.
Who is More at Risk of Tooth Decay?
Some people are more at risk of tooth decay in Clarington, especially anyone with dry mouth, where they cannot produce enough saliva. Usually, the saliva glands release around two litres of saliva each day, helping to maintain a more neutral and cleaner environment in the mouth. If you have dry mouth or xerostomia and do not have enough saliva, your risk of cavities increases as excess bacteria and acids are not washed away so easily. It is a condition that can occur if you take certain prescription or over-the-counter medications. The saliva glands can also become damaged due to surgery or cancer treatments.
Another big risk factor is diet, and many people have a diet high in sugars and carbohydrate-rich foods. These foods provide the perfect fuel for bacteria found in dental plaque, a sticky biofilm that builds up over tooth surfaces between regular brushing and flossing. These bacteria produce acid as a by-product that weakens tooth enamel. Eating a lot of very acidic foods can have a similar effect. If you prefer to snack to keep your energy levels high, it could negatively affect your dental health. The more often you snack between meals, the more frequently your teeth are exposed to acids.
Reducing the Risk of Tooth Decay
The easiest way to reduce your risk of cavities in Courtice is by seeing our dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings. When we examine your teeth, we can check for signs of tiny lesions or soft spots in tooth enamel that could indicate the beginning of a cavity. Sometimes, a dentist will choose to monitor the lesion or recommend professional fluoride treatments to help re-harden tooth enamel.
If you do need a filling, we can use biocompatible materials to repair the tooth. These materials closely mimic natural tooth structure, working harmoniously with your teeth and protecting the cavity. During your regular dental checkups, we can also monitor the condition of existing fillings as these will need replacing periodically. If you have some silver amalgam fillings, we can safely remove them, replacing them with biocompatible fillings.
Dry mouth is a common problem, and if you have this condition, we can discuss how best to manage it. We can provide saliva substitutes or recommend a brand to buy over-the-counter. You may find other strategies helpful, such as sipping on water frequently, chewing sugar-free gum, or sucking on sugar-free candies to stimulate saliva flow. If prescription medication is causing this problem, it might be worth seeing your GP in case they can adjust the dosage or prescribe something different, but you must discuss this with them first and should never stop taking any medication without medical advice.
Changing your dietary habits can also make a big difference, making sure you avoid snacking between meals or choose more tooth-friendly snacks such as hard cheese and crunchy fruits and vegetables.