Tooth decay is a common dental problem among kids. However, adults are also not far behind. Almost all dentists will say to you that of all the dental conditions frequently complained to them, tooth decay is at the top of the list. We all know how painful tooth decay can be, and with all probability you have experienced it too. It is so painful that it can bring an immediate change to a person’s face and attitude once the pain strikes. It is something you definitely do not want to experience again. But how can you prevent tooth decay? It is really very simple and it often begins with brushing your teeth.

For as long as we can remember, dentists like Dr. Jonathan Hartley, they have been recommending that we should brush our teeth regularly. This usually means at least two times in a day. However, they say that the more sensible thing to do is to brush our teeth after every meal. So if you eat three regular meals within 24 hours, then it means you should be brushing your teeth at least three times a day. Brushing is an essential step in proper dental care because it removes the scraps of food from our teeth and also kills the bacteria that might cause, not only tooth decay, but also other dental problems.

The truth is that if we do not regularly brush our pearly whites, we should consider ourselves already lucky if it is just tooth decay that we might get. Because there are a myriad of other dental disorders that can result to poor dental hygiene. There is of course gingivitis and gum diseases. And also bad breath, something none of us definitely want to get.

Dr. Jonathan Hartley completely understands the need to educate the public on proper dental care that is why he has given the following suggestions on how we should take better care of our teeth and mouth.

Just to reiterate the importance of it, brushing our teeth is at the forefront of our battle against tooth decay and cavities. But it is not enough. We should also be flossing our teeth as this is more effective in removing the small bits and pieces of food that usually get stuck in between our teeth. Because if we just leave them where they are, they will eventually cause bacteria to build up faster and for our teeth to deteriorate.

Always brush using fluoride toothpaste and do not buy a toothpaste because it tastes better or promises to make your breath fresher. Because what good is a fresher breath if your teeth are in very poor condition? Fluoride makes our teeth stronger and greatly helps in the fight against tooth decay.

There is another thing that we should be putting more into our bodies if we want stronger teeth, and that is calcium. We all know that calcium helps make our teeth stronger that is why we have long associated milk with strong teeth. Other good sources of calcium are broccoli, fish, and orange juice.

However if there is something that we should avoid eating too much of it is carbohydrates and sugar. These usually stick onto the tooth enamel, in turn causing it to weaken and become more prone to cavities. That is why we should stay away from eating too much candies and chips.

And last but not the least, Dr. Jonathan Hartley highly suggests that you visit your dentist on a more regular basis. This is so your dentist can see if there are any changes, whether good or bad, on your mouth and teeth. If there are any, then he will be in the best position to guide you to what is the most appropriate treatment to keep your teeth in perfect health.