Table of contents:
- Good habits to prevent cavities
- 1. Brush your teeth regularly
- 2. Diligently drink water
- 3. Eat vegetables and fruit
- 4. Chew gum
- 5. Drink green and black tea
Of course it's uncomfortable if you have to suffer toothache due to cavities. In fact, this problem can be prevented by doing a few simple habits. Preventing cavities is certainly easier and cheaper than seeing a dentist. So, what are the habits that can prevent cavities?
Good habits to prevent cavities
After a day of eating sweet foods and drinks with various flavors, it is your duty to clean your teeth. This method is a powerful step in preventing cavities.
In addition, some of the habits below can also help you to prevent unwanted cavities from appearing in your teeth.
1. Brush your teeth regularly
Regular toothbrush is certainly the most important way to prevent cavities. It is recommended that you brush your teeth at least twice a day, especially at night.
There are many leftovers left behind since morning, noon, and night. Your teeth have been struggling for the whole day to process the food and drink that enter the body.
This allows food residue to be left behind and allows plaque-causing bacteria to thrive. Therefore, it is important to brush your teeth at night to prevent the formation of plaque that causes cavities.
Make sure you choose toothpaste with fluoride content. The fluoride content in toothpaste can reduce plaque formation, thereby preventing cavities.
PDGI (Indonesian Dental Association) recommends that you rinse your mouth just once after brushing your teeth. That way, the fluoride content in toothpaste can protect your teeth optimally.
After brushing your teeth, you can also clean between your teeth with dental floss (dental floss). Dental floss can reach narrow areas that are not covered by a toothbrush.
2. Diligently drink water
Not only is it healthy for the body as a whole, in fact drinking water can also help maintain healthy teeth and mouth. Drinking water can sweep away food debris that can cause cavities.
Especially if you've been drinking juices or sodas that contain phosphoric, citrus, or malic acid. Here, water can dissolve the acid produced by bacteria in the mouth, thereby preventing the formation of plaque that causes cavities.
3. Eat vegetables and fruit
You may be confused about what eating vegetables and fruits have to do with dental health. In fact, vegetables and fruits that contain lots of fiber play a role in maintaining healthy teeth.
Besides being good for digestion, getting used to fibrous foods in vegetables and fruit can help increase the production of saliva which contains calcium and phosphate, which can help prevent cavities.
4. Chew gum
Behind the fun sensation, chewing gum can also be useful in cleaning teeth from food debris and preventing cavities. However, choose sugar-free gum so that there is no sugar left over your teeth.
Chewing sugar-free candy is believed to increase saliva in the oral cavity. When you chew gum, saliva also helps to reduce plaque, strengthen teeth, and prevent cavities.
5. Drink green and black tea
The hobby of drinking green tea or black tea can also prevent cavities. Apart from containing natural fluoride which can protect the enamel, both teas contain polyphenols which are good for protecting the health of your teeth.
The polyphenols in tea work to reduce the formation of plaque on teeth. This important component also prevents the growth of dental bacteria that can cause cavities. At least, a cup of tea can be a source of natural fluoride that maintains your teeth.