Foods high in sugar are often targeted as poor diet choices, because they can add a large amount of empty calories to your daily consumption. However, your waistline is not the only part of your body that can be troubled by excess sugar. Plaque is a sticky buildup of bacteria that reside in your mouth, and can build up on your teeth. That bacteria consumes the sugar they come into contact with, and in the course of their digestion, they produce damaging acids that wear down your enamel. If you deprive these bacteria of sugars, you reduce your exposure to those harmful acids. The cleaning you receive during a routine dental exam can help eliminate plaque, which makes these visits an excellent cavity deterrent.
What Happens Once A Cavity Forms On Your Tooth
If you know you have a cavity, you should not delay treatment. That decay will spread until it destroys your tooth, and bacteria can potentially move from the infected tooth to other parts of your body. However, early treatment can eliminate decay before it causes any real harm, and your tooth can be restored with a filling. If you have a serious cavity that has reached the living tissue in your pulp, root canal therapy can stop this advanced infection.
Why You Should Stick To Your Scheduled Routine Checkups
Dental prevention makes you less likely to develop a cavity, but it goes beyond this already important service. A routine checkup can identify small cavities, but your dentist is also inspecting your mouth for other harmful conditions. If you are starting to show signs of gum disease, your dentist can recommend an ultrasonic deep cleaning – this can take care of bacteria under your tooth roots, and help you recover from a periodontal infection.
ABOUT YOUR PRAIRIE VILLAGE, KS DENTIST:
With decades of professional dental care experience, native of Kansas City, Robert M Browne, DDS is proud to provide general, cosmetic, restorative, and prosthetic care to patients from Prairie Village and surrounding communities. To learn more or to schedule a visit with Dr. Browne, contact our office today at (913) 901-8585.
