But that’s not all…

Since it is true that prevention is the best medicine, let us look at a number of conventional, and a few unexpected, tools that you can use to improve your dental health.

ü As emphasized above, brushing one’s teeth is a fantastic way to fight pathogenic microbes. By brushing your teeth, you are scraping away and spitting out the organisms that cause the decay! It is recommended to do so twice a day, or even after every meal. In order to prevent irreversible damage to your teeth’s enamel, be sure to have a soft-bristled brush that you use to brush in a circular motion on all surfaces of the teeth.

ü Secondly, do not forget to floss once a day. Flossing helps to remove microbes that hide out between teeth and just below the gum line. Do not forget to floss behind your very back teeth (that have no others behind them), as this is a terrific collection place for bacteria that is often neglected during cleaning routines.

ü See your dentist every six months for a cleaning and check-up.

ü Limit your intake of sugary foods. Instead, opt for healthy food choices that are not also food for the bacteria. These include fresh vegetables, plain yogurt, cheese, etc.

Did you know that your saliva is a natural bacteria combatant? Saliva helps to wash away potential pathogens and can neutralize the acids that normally cause plaque. It is also known that the acidic environment in the mouth makes life for many bacteria impossible.

Natural Edible Bacteria Killers

You might not know it, but there are quite a few foods that are known to kill plaque-causing bacteria. Try eating some of these to reduce the presence of these microbes.

Ø GRAPES: Research in France has found that procyanidins, a type of tannin is responsible for inhibition of the growth of Streptococcus mutans. Found in seeds, this chemical has inhibitory effects similar to that of penicillin on S. mutans.

Ø TEA: This “wonder leaf” performs a number of amazing healthful functions. Besides protecting against heart disease and possessing anti-viral properties, tea also contains polyphenols that inhibit growth of bacteria. These same polyphenols may also decrease any plaque or acid that surviving bacteria produce. According to a Japanese study, black tea prevented the production of the chemical that allows bacteria to cling to teeth and clump together—thereby preventing plaque build-up! To a smaller extent, tea contains low levels of fluoride, and when a test group rinsed their mouths with tea for one minute, ten times a day, they accumulated less bacteria than did a control group that rinsed with pure water.

Ø WASABI: Sure it burns your mouth, and as it turns out, wasabi is more than many bacteria species can handle too. In a Japanese study, S. mutans was exposed to a high concentration of wasabi; S. mutans was inhibited 100% from producing the sugar that binds to teeth. Thus, plaque could not form. Horseradish, a vegetative relative of wasabi, has similar properties.

Ø CHEESE: Cheese is a source of “tooth food”—calcium and phosphorus. When chewed, cheese can come between bacteria and teeth via a film that it produces. In addition, the chemical casein neutralizes damaging acids made by bacteria.

Ø CHOCOLATE: Oh yes, justification. But not quite. Like tea and grapes, pure chocolate (the kind without sugar) contains tannins which are known to prevent bacteria from attaching to the teeth.

What could be the problem if I still get cavities after all these prevention efforts?

· You’re eating too many sweets, especially the sticky kinds like taffy or caramel.

· You might have the condition known as “xerostomia” where you do not produce adequate amounts of saliva. Because of this, your teeth are more susceptible to bacterial acids

· If you have diabetes, your immune system is impaired, making you more susceptible to tooth decay. Pay extra attention to your dental health in this case.

Resources:

http://www.askadentalhygienist.com/ohl/faq_3.asp

http://ecsoc2.hcc.ru/DP_TOP1/dp009/dp009.htm

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/32/1728_80183.htm?printing=true

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/36/1728_66834.htm?printing=true

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/66/79602.htm?lastselectedguid={5fe84e90-bc77-4056-a91c-9531713ca348}

http://my.webmd.com/content/healthwise/108/26924.htm?printing=true