Queens Blvd Top Tooth Decay Dentist
Tooth decay can only get worse. It will not heal itself. Getting the proper treatment for it quickly can help prevent further decay and may enable you to save the tooth, and help keep your gums healthy, too. Dentists have a number of tools to help you and your children fight decay.
The Cause of Tooth Decay
Your mouth provides a place where bacteria can readily grow. As the amount of bacteria increases, they produce acids that will damage your teeth. You can also have food particles caught in the crevices between your teeth that can also cause trouble.
Removing these bacteria and keeping them in check is very important to avoiding decay in your teeth. This is done by frequent brushing and flossing of your teeth. Rinsing your mouth once a day with a good anti-bacterial mouthwash will also help.
Dental Care
If you already have evidence of decay, such as pain in a tooth or gums, or brown spots on your teeth, etc., you should see a dentist to get it repaired. A dentist will evaluate the tooth, or teeth, and then seek to repair them when possible. The decay is removed from the tooth first, then a filling material is put in, which can be tooth-colored or silver.
Decay Prevention
A dentist can also help you with preventing further decay. Two types of treatment are available from the dentist that can help delay or even prevent further decay of your teeth. These come as additives that can be applied to your teeth – fluoride rinses and sealants.
Fluoride can actually help your teeth to heal themselves when the decay is minor. It comes in either a gel or a varnish form. A sealant can be applied to your molars to help protect them from decay. The dentist will first clean the teeth to be sealed, and then apply a material to rough up the teeth. Then the sealant is put on top.
The sealant is clear so that the dentist can determine if any problems should develop later. It is usually good for about 10 years, and is often applied to the molars of children over six. Adults can also get either treatment.
Severe Decay
When a tooth has become too severely decayed to save, the dentist has several options. This may mean you can get a crown put on it, if the root of the tooth is healthy.
Another option is to have the tooth pulled. When that happens, you have a choice between getting an implant, a bridge, or partial dentures.
Health Advice
Whatever the situation, a dentist is also available to provide some good advice about how to avoid decay in your teeth. This can be about your diet – which will most likely include reducing sugars, and healthy lifestyle habits – such as stop smoking. Controlling diabetes is also important for those who have it.
The dentists at Amazing Smile Dental NY, in the Forest Hills area of Queens, NY, are glad to offer treatment for tooth decay. We want to help protect your teeth and keep them looking great. We offer a wide range of dental services for the entire family, and we invite you to call us today at (718) 674-6478 to learn more and to make an appointment.