Preventing Cavities In "Grown Up" Teeth Articles | Remedy

By: Richard Bleuze

Preventing Cavities In "Grown Up" Teeth.

The pain you experience in or around a tooth may come from one easily identified spot.  You might feel an ache when you chew or bite down, or when you eat or drink something hot , cold, or sweet.  This could mean the protective layer on your tooth has decayed, exposing the sensitive nerves.  A simple filling should fix this problem.

Less than one out of 3 seniors has dentures today as compared to 30 years ago when 2 out of 3 seniors had fasle teeth.  These statistics sound like a dental miracl, but if you're a senior with your natural teeth, think about the following.  More than 95% of seniors have receding gum lines, and this can leave their roots open to attack by decay causing bacteria.  No wonder that tooth decay is 3 times more likely in seniors than in young adults.

How does this happen.  Well, teeth you've had for your entire life can wear out just like any other part of your body.  However, you can control the tteth under attack by doing the following:

1.  Use a soft brush to save your teeth and gums - Experts say the wrong toothbrush and incorrect brushing technique can cause gum abrasion, gum recession, and periodontal disease.  They recommend that you never use anything but a soft brush!
2.  Another option is to buy an electric toothbrush that automatically shuts off when you apply too much pressure (you don't want too brush too hard).
3.  Don't brush your teeth for a long period of time - experts say keep it under 2 minutes.
4.  Watch out for medications that you take - Medications such as decongestants, antihistamines, painkillers, and diuretiics can cause dry month and thus put you at risk for tooth decay.  You need saliva not only to lubricate your mouth, but to wash away food that normally gets stuck between your teeth.  For a quick relief, enjoy a piece of sugar free candy or gum.
5.  You need flouoride and bottled water doen't have it!
6.  Try not too snack during the day - Each snack you eat leaves your teeth open to attack from bacteria.
7.  Wash away tooth decay with wasabi.
8.  Enjoy a cup of tea - black tea or green tea appears to be one of the biggest enemies of cavity causing bacteria.  Whichever type of tea you prefer, remember to drink it plain!
9.  Try to use unprocessed honey.
10. Don't share your eating utensils.

It's important to remember that these remedies can't replace brushing and flossing.  And visit your dentist at least once a year (you'll find that dentisry has come a long way - gone are the days of painful drilling).