Cavities:
10 Easy Prevention Tips for the Whole Family
“Looks like you’ve got a new cavity there!”
Yikes! These are words no adult, parent, or child wants to hear!
Whether you have a cavity (or cavities) now or are caring for a child with their first cavity experience, the best thing you can do is adopt cavity prevention lifestyle habits today.
Cutting out sugar isn’t the only way to prevent cavities.
In fact, just cutting out sugar – without creating healthy habits in place of the sugar consumption – might not pack the punch you’re hoping for!
The beautiful thing about cavity-prevention is that it isn’t rocket science, and I’m here to help you learn easy ways to nourish yourself and your family to keep your teeth in tip-top shape.
Adding a few nourishing habits to your family’s life will go a long way – and once you have a bit of momentum with a few of the suggestions below, you’ll have the confidence and commitment to implement more!
The suggestions you’ll find here fall into two categories:
#1: They strengthen your teeth
#2: They help eliminate bad oral bacteria
Disclaimer: I am not a dietician or physician. All information provided here is based on personal and dental professional experience and is intended for educational purposes. This information is not prescriptive and you should consult your personal health care providers for needed medical information.
1. Add Bone Broth to your diet – it’s easier than you think!
Your teeth are bones… built from of a vast array of minerals. By extracting the minerals from the bones of chicken, beef, and even venison bones through making bone broth (this is much like soup broth!) and consuming the broth regularly – you can replenish depleted minerals in the body for stronger, healthier teeth!
2. Start a high-quality Vitamin D supplement.
Research shows that there is a correlation between low levels of Vitamin D and formation of cavities. Higher levels of Vitamin D results in less cavities. In northern states like Michigan, nearly everyone is deficient in Vitamin D – especially in the winter! A typical daily dose of Vitamin D3 is 800-2000 mg IUs. A supplement that also contains Vitamin K2 120-200 mcg will be even more effective as these two vitamins work together synergistically in the body.
3. Switch to Xylitol when possible!
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that actually kills one of the main bacteria associated with cavities! The catch is that you have to get at least 6-8 grams of it in your diet for it to be therapeutically effective. Xylitol can be lethal to pets so please be mindful when using.
This website http://www.drjohns.com has great information, products, and is a local Michigan business!
4. Swap out your toothpaste for a healthier option!
Most toothpastes contain a long list of mystery ingredients to make your teeth feel clean, while not doing much to truly build your oral health. We carry several options in our office for you to pick up when you’re here for your next visit! Dry brushing is also a great option, which means not using any toothpaste at all. your toothbrush bristles are adequate to remove plaque all by themselves.
5. Use a tooth re-mineralizer… It’s like a super-hero for your teeth!
I recommend MI Paste/Carifree. This product contains bioactive calcium and phosphate to help slow cavity growth and re-mineralize teeth. Apply after brushing and flossing, using your finger to spread it around all surfaces and let it sit for as long as you can without licking it off or sucking it down. The amount of time in contact with your teeth matters! For Adults, re-mineralizing trays can be made to hold the product.
6. Effectively remove plaque.
That sticky white stuff on your teeth is plaque! Brushing your teeth is obviously the most effective way to remove plaque (along with flossing, more on that next). If you have children – be sure to brush your kids’ teeth for them, don't just let them do it! Kids are generally ready to brush their own teeth well when they are able to adequately wipe their own bums! This is just a general rule of thumb; some kids can wipe effectively, yet are unable to remove plaque thoroughly. It's your job to check!
7. Make flossing a part of your regular oral routine.
My favorite floss is the woven style because it spreads out and grabs plaque while in between teeth and below the gumline. But - any flossing is better than none! For kids who have yet to develop the finger dexterity for flossing, or anyone who has trouble wrapping floss around their fingers, I recommend u-shaped flossers.
8. Focus on adding healthy foods that are not cavity causing to the diet
Instead of focusing on what you “can’t” have, focus on adding healthy foods to the diet. Most simply – eating clean and, when possible, organic, meats and vegetables. The best drinks for strong teeth are water and herbal teas.
9. Know the top cavity culprits to avoid eating them and help your children make healthy choices, too! Here’s my top five “no’s” list:
Making dental care a top-of-mind priority for your family will keep you accountable to your oral health and aware of how your choices are impacting your dental health. You only get one set of (adult) teeth in this life, so take care of them and build them up in every way you can!
We are currently accepting new patients at Naturally You Dentistry, and would be honored to serve your family. Click here to book your appointment today: 269-962-5774.
Yikes! These are words no adult, parent, or child wants to hear!
Whether you have a cavity (or cavities) now or are caring for a child with their first cavity experience, the best thing you can do is adopt cavity prevention lifestyle habits today.
Cutting out sugar isn’t the only way to prevent cavities.
In fact, just cutting out sugar – without creating healthy habits in place of the sugar consumption – might not pack the punch you’re hoping for!
The beautiful thing about cavity-prevention is that it isn’t rocket science, and I’m here to help you learn easy ways to nourish yourself and your family to keep your teeth in tip-top shape.
Adding a few nourishing habits to your family’s life will go a long way – and once you have a bit of momentum with a few of the suggestions below, you’ll have the confidence and commitment to implement more!
The suggestions you’ll find here fall into two categories:
#1: They strengthen your teeth
#2: They help eliminate bad oral bacteria
Disclaimer: I am not a dietician or physician. All information provided here is based on personal and dental professional experience and is intended for educational purposes. This information is not prescriptive and you should consult your personal health care providers for needed medical information.
1. Add Bone Broth to your diet – it’s easier than you think!
Your teeth are bones… built from of a vast array of minerals. By extracting the minerals from the bones of chicken, beef, and even venison bones through making bone broth (this is much like soup broth!) and consuming the broth regularly – you can replenish depleted minerals in the body for stronger, healthier teeth!
2. Start a high-quality Vitamin D supplement.
Research shows that there is a correlation between low levels of Vitamin D and formation of cavities. Higher levels of Vitamin D results in less cavities. In northern states like Michigan, nearly everyone is deficient in Vitamin D – especially in the winter! A typical daily dose of Vitamin D3 is 800-2000 mg IUs. A supplement that also contains Vitamin K2 120-200 mcg will be even more effective as these two vitamins work together synergistically in the body.
3. Switch to Xylitol when possible!
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that actually kills one of the main bacteria associated with cavities! The catch is that you have to get at least 6-8 grams of it in your diet for it to be therapeutically effective. Xylitol can be lethal to pets so please be mindful when using.
This website http://www.drjohns.com has great information, products, and is a local Michigan business!
4. Swap out your toothpaste for a healthier option!
Most toothpastes contain a long list of mystery ingredients to make your teeth feel clean, while not doing much to truly build your oral health. We carry several options in our office for you to pick up when you’re here for your next visit! Dry brushing is also a great option, which means not using any toothpaste at all. your toothbrush bristles are adequate to remove plaque all by themselves.
5. Use a tooth re-mineralizer… It’s like a super-hero for your teeth!
I recommend MI Paste/Carifree. This product contains bioactive calcium and phosphate to help slow cavity growth and re-mineralize teeth. Apply after brushing and flossing, using your finger to spread it around all surfaces and let it sit for as long as you can without licking it off or sucking it down. The amount of time in contact with your teeth matters! For Adults, re-mineralizing trays can be made to hold the product.
6. Effectively remove plaque.
That sticky white stuff on your teeth is plaque! Brushing your teeth is obviously the most effective way to remove plaque (along with flossing, more on that next). If you have children – be sure to brush your kids’ teeth for them, don't just let them do it! Kids are generally ready to brush their own teeth well when they are able to adequately wipe their own bums! This is just a general rule of thumb; some kids can wipe effectively, yet are unable to remove plaque thoroughly. It's your job to check!
7. Make flossing a part of your regular oral routine.
My favorite floss is the woven style because it spreads out and grabs plaque while in between teeth and below the gumline. But - any flossing is better than none! For kids who have yet to develop the finger dexterity for flossing, or anyone who has trouble wrapping floss around their fingers, I recommend u-shaped flossers.
8. Focus on adding healthy foods that are not cavity causing to the diet
Instead of focusing on what you “can’t” have, focus on adding healthy foods to the diet. Most simply – eating clean and, when possible, organic, meats and vegetables. The best drinks for strong teeth are water and herbal teas.
9. Know the top cavity culprits to avoid eating them and help your children make healthy choices, too! Here’s my top five “no’s” list:
- Foods that dissolves in the mouth (breakfast cereal, crackers, pretzels, bread)
- Fruit juices, even if they are watered down, it is best to eliminate this completely.
- Dried fruit, which has a high sugar content and sticks in teeth
- Processed foods with sugar including candy and fruit snacks
- Sugary drinks (like chocolate milk) and soda pop
- Limit quantity and time snacking - the longer these things are in the mouth the more damage is done!
- Don't sip, chug! Again, the longer something is in the mouth the more damage can occur.
- Rinse with water several times after eating the above-mentioned foods.
- Use xylitol gum/mints after consuming these foods.
Making dental care a top-of-mind priority for your family will keep you accountable to your oral health and aware of how your choices are impacting your dental health. You only get one set of (adult) teeth in this life, so take care of them and build them up in every way you can!
We are currently accepting new patients at Naturally You Dentistry, and would be honored to serve your family. Click here to book your appointment today: 269-962-5774.