You hear cavities mentioned all the time. Toothpastes mention prevention of them right on their packaging, and it's a focus of your oral examination when you come in every six months for a checkup. But what causes them and how can you make them a rare occurrence? Our
Madison Square dentist, Dr. Harvey Katz DDS, is pleased to guide you with expert advice and recommendations.
Your teeth have protective layers. The outer barrier is the enamel. Among other functions, it serves to keep bacteria from getting inside your teeth, where it can cause infections. You can trace cavities all the way back to your diet. Sugar is one of the culprits. To the extent that you can keep your sugar intake limited, you're doing a lot to prevent cavities from forming. Obviously, we mean cookies and cake and soda, but also condiments like ketchup, and bottled salad dressings, and so many other places where you might not expect to find sugar, and yet there it is. Starches are a form of sugar, and are found in foods such as bread, rice, potatoes, and pasta. They are equally problematic for your teeth. The issue is that sugar and starch cause dental plaque to form, and it is that film-like substance that decays your enamel, and eventually results in cavities. It is not realistic to expect you to give up all sugar and starch, and you don't have to. Brushing in the morning and again at bedtime, and flossing once per day before you go to sleep combine to effectively remove most plaque. And a trip to see our Madison Square dentist twice per year includes both detection and treatment of existing cavities, and prevention through a dental cleaning, which eliminates hardened tartar. In case you're wondering, tartar is another form of plaque. It develops from filmy plaque that is not washed away by your oral hygiene regimen.
Contact our office to set up your next six month visit with our
Madison Square dentist. Cavities don't have to affect you.
By the Office of Harvey Katz, DDS & Jason Katz, DDS
August 31, 2018
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