How to effectively prevent tooth decay? Keep these methods in mind

Tooth decay is not only a common problem among children and teenagers, but also common among adults. How to better protect teeth and prevent tooth decay is basic knowledge that each of us needs to understand.

To prevent tooth decay, you can start from the following aspects:

1. Control dental plaque

Develop good oral hygiene habits, such as brushing your teeth in the morning and evening, rinsing your mouth after meals, and using dental floss, interdental brushes or oral irrigators.

The correct way to brush your teeth:

Horizontal vibration method: also called Bass brushing method, that is, the tip of the toothbrush is facing the gingival margin, the bristles are at a 45-degree angle to the teeth, and a little pressure is applied to make part of the bristles enter the gingival sulcus and part of the bristles go deep into the gap between the adjacent teeth. Vibrate horizontally in place for 4-5 times, and the distance of the bristle movement should not exceed 1mm. Brush the upper teeth downwards and the lower teeth upwards, and gradually move the toothbrush to the adjacent teeth. Cover 2-3 teeth each time you brush your teeth. When brushing the lingual side of the upper and lower front teeth, you can stand the toothbrush upright and vibrate it up and down. Brush the buccal and lingual surfaces of all teeth and the distal surface of the last tooth in a certain order to completely remove the plaque.

When brushing your teeth with the Bass method, you should choose a nylon soft-bristled toothbrush with blunt ends to avoid damaging the gums. Brush the inside and outside of the teeth, the front teeth, and the back teeth. It is best to keep brushing for 3 minutes each time. Too long or too short is not appropriate.

Vertical brushing method: Place the tip of the toothbrush bristles at the junction of the gums and the crowns, apply slight pressure along the direction of the teeth, brush downwards when brushing the upper teeth, and brush upwards when brushing the lower teeth. Brush the inside and outside of the teeth and the occlusal surface, and brush the same area repeatedly several times. This method can effectively remove plaque and soft scale, and massage the gums to keep the gums in normal shape.

2. Use dental floss correctly

Pass the dental floss through the contact point, and gently apply force to make the dental floss reach the tooth surface below the contact point and enter the gingival sulcus to clean the gingival sulcus area. Place the dental floss close to the tooth surface at the neck of the tooth, and wrap it around the tooth surface to make the contact area between the dental floss and the tooth surface larger, then pull it up and down to scrape off the adjacent surface plaque and soft scale. Take out the dental floss from bottom to top, and enter the adjacent tooth gap again according to the above method, and thoroughly scrape off the adjacent surface plaque of all teeth one by one. Each tooth surface should be scraped up and down 4-6 times until the tooth surface is clean.

It should be noted that when the dental floss is at the bottom of the gingival sulcus, you should be careful not to use too much force to avoid damaging the periodontal tissue. If the contact point is tight and difficult to pass, you can pull the dental floss above the contact point to make a horizontal sawing motion to gradually pass the contact point and do not miss the distal surface of the last tooth. When the gums are obviously retracted or there are obvious gaps during orthodontic treatment, the dental floss is not effective, and you need to use an interdental brush or an oral irrigator.

There are various types of interdental brushes. Choose a type that is slightly larger than the gaps between your teeth. When brushing the upper front teeth, insert the interdental brush diagonally downward into the gaps between your teeth. When brushing the lower front teeth, tilt the interdental brush slightly upward. When brushing the back teeth, relax your muscles. Brush each gap between your teeth 2-3 times to avoid damaging your gums. You don't need to use toothpaste when using an interdental brush. Wash and dry it after use. Replace the toothbrush in time when the bristles split or the wire unwinds.

3. Control sugar intake

Use sugar substitutes and eat less foods high in added sugar.

4. Enhance tooth caries resistance

Pay attention to nutrition and health care, avoid developmental defects, use fluoride toothpaste, and perform pit and fissure sealing in a timely manner.

5. Check your oral cavity regularly

Preschool children should be checked every 3-6 months, school-age children should be checked every six months, and adults should be checked every six months to a year.