Advanced Cosmetic and General Dentistry Blog

Tooth decay can cause a hole in your tooth, also known as a dental cavity, which is a common dental problem that causes great discomfort among patients of all age groups. If ignored, cavities can lead to more serious dental problems. The best way to prevent tooth decay is by brushing twice a day, flossing on a regular basis and seeing your dentist for twice a year examinations. However, people who follow a comprehensive and effective oral hygiene program can still develop cavities.

Cavities are caused by dental caries, caused by various strains of bacteria that flourish in your mouth, feeding on sugars and other carbohydrates accumulated from meals and snacks that have not been removed with brushing and flossing.

It is estimated almost 90% of all children are affected by tooth decay, making cavity prevention, discovery and treatment one of the most important goals of general dentistry. General dentists have a variety of options available for the treatment of cavities, but prevention remains the best method for controlling dental cavities because it is not possible to regenerate tooth tissue once decay has begun.

If you or your children are vulnerable to dental cavities, please contact Dr. Jamie Sands and Dr. Jason Sands at Smiles By Sands Cosmetic and Family Dentistry in the Studio City, California area to schedule a visit to evaluate your needs and develop a treatment plan that suits you.

Good oral hygiene is a fairly general term that can mean different things to different people. At Smiles by Sands, our team of professionals educates our patients to understand that practicing good oral hygiene habits includes:

• Properly brushing the teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
• Properly flossing the teeth once a day
• Brushing the tongue to eliminate bacteria that can cause bad breath
• Maintaining a healthy diet
• Limiting between meal snacks
• Visiting the dentist every six months for dental check-ups

These recommendations apply to both adults and children. In fact, the earlier children learn the importance of good oral hygiene and learn good dental habits, the better chance they will have as adults to maintain a healthy smile.

When these behaviors become second-nature to our patients, they can feel assured that they are doing everything possible to create a healthy mouth with:

• Clean teeth
• Healthy gums
• Fresh breath

Of course, practicing good oral hygiene does not guarantee that the patient will not develop cavities or have other dental issues. But by taking the above preventative measures, potential problem areas can be identified and corrected quickly before they become serious.

If you would like to get on the right path to good oral hygiene, please contact the dental professionals Dr. Jamie Sands and Dr. Jason Sands for a free dental consultation.