2 Things Your Dentist May Suggest To Help Protect Your Oral Health More Effectively

If your teeth have been experiencing more episodes of dental decay than usual, there are multiple things that your dentist may suggest to help protect your oral health more effectively. Here are a few of them:

Dental Sealants

If the decay is occurring on the chewing surfaces of your back teeth, your dentist may suggest the application of dental sealants. The sealants, which are made of dental plastic, are applied to the teeth to form a barrier between the teeth and bacterial acid.

Bacterial acid is one of the main reasons that dental decay develops. As you eat food, particles are left behind in your oral cavity. The bacteria in your mouth feed on the carbohydrates from this edible debris. One product of their microbial digestion is acid. The corrosive substance dissolves your tooth enamel to cause to decay.

Even if particles of food settle directly in the pits and crevices of your molars, the surfaces are protected when they are covered by a sealant. The application of dental sealants can be performed in a few moments, and it only requires a single dental visit.

Dental sealants are often used for children's teeth, but if you are experiencing decay in your adult teeth regularly, the application may also be suitable for you.

Dental Fluoride

Your dentist may suggest the addition of more fluoride to your dental health regimen. Although fluoride is contained in most toothpastes and tap water, the concentration of the compound is sometimes not high enough to fully protect your teeth. Your dentist may suggest fluoride rinses and tablets, but he or she may also suggest a fluoride treatment.

Fluoride helps to protect teeth from decay by remineralizing them and making them more resistant to acid. When fluoride is added to the mouth, it covers the tooth enamel and helps attract concentrations of minerals, such as calcium and phosphorus, back to the tooth surface. Fluoride can then combine with the minerals to form a reparative tooth material that is more acid-resistant than the original tooth enamel.

When a dentist applies a fluoride treatment, he or she may brush the solution onto your teeth or apply it in a mouth guard. After permitting the fluoride product to rest on the teeth for a few minutes, the mouth can be rinsed.

To learn more ways to better protect your teeth from decay, schedule an appointment with a dentist in your area.

Click on the link for general dentistry or do an online search.