Reviewed by medical experts • For informational purposes only
Fluoride brushing twice daily, daily flossing, fewer sweet moments, water after sweets, sealants for children - caries is almost entirely preventable.
Dental caries is one of the most preventable diseases in medicine. The protocol is boring, cheap and spectacularly effective.
Prevent caries with fluoride toothpaste twice daily (night most of all), daily flossing, fewer sweet moments, water after sweets, nothing sweet after night brushing, no bottles in bed - plus sealants for children's molars and a checkup before anything hurts.
Written By
Dr. Daksh
BDS
Reviewed By
Dr. Varun Gupta
MD Pharmacology, MBBS
Last updated on
27 Sep 2022 • 06:23 PM (IST)
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Plaque bacteria plus frequent sugar equals acid - worsened by dry mouth, deep grooves, constant snacking and skipped brushing, even passed via shared spoons.
Fluoride toothpaste and varnish prevent and reverse early decay; remineralising pastes and xylitol support; no pill replaces a filling.
Pit and fissure, smooth surface, root and recurrent decay, plus rampant, arrested and baby bottle caries - each type with its own fix and clock.
Sugar frequency beats quantity - skip sticky snacks and all-day sipping, chase sweets with water, keep nights clean, and babies never sleep with a bottle.
Tooth decay is acid from sugar-fed plaque bacteria dissolving the tooth - silent early, reversible at the white-spot stage, always treatable.
Five stages of decay: reversible white spot, enamel hole, dentin sensitivity, nerve pain, abscess - the cheapest dental visit is the early one.
