:Dental Cavities Guide

Make sure you have a complete set of dental supplies in order to maintain total dental care and good dental health, and to prevent cavities from forming.

Some of the dental supplies you need to invest on are: a good toothbrush, one preferably recommended by your dentist; waterpicks which are useful in getting out debris from areas missed by brushing and flossing; dental floss for hard to reach in between teeth areas; fluoride mouth rinse and fluoride toothpaste for cavity protection. Don’t just go for come-ons given by certain brands of dental products. Read the labels and find out if the product you are buying is recommended and approved by dental associations. For instance, whitening toothpastes do not necessarily contain fluoride. So if you were to choose between whitening and fluoride contents, you might as well choose the latter.

Majority of cavities are completely painless – because the outer enamel has no nerves and it is only when the cavity enters the dentin that one may be aware of its existence. The most common symptom is an increased sensation to cold and/or sweet foods or beverages. The cavity weakens the tooth and can cause a fracture when biting down.

It is better to treat a small cavity than to wait until they feel pain. By that time, the cavity may have infected the dental pulp, requiring a root canal or an extraction. Regular dental examinations will reduce the probability that a dental cavity goes undetected and spread.