As everyone who brushes and flosses their teeth knows, your back teeth are harder to reach and to keep clean than your front teeth. The back teeth are developed with grooves and ridges that help you chew food, but the downside is that these grooves and ridges can also collect tiny food particles and plaque, which contains bacteria that can increase the risk of cavities. To help keep your teeth free from cavities and prevent the damage that bacteria in plaque can cause consider adding a fluoride rinse to your routine and ask your dental professional if an antibacterial mouthwash can help.
Tooth decay doesn't happen overnight. The bacteria in your mouth could cause a film called plaque to grow over your teeth. Eating foods rich in sugar helps bacteria in the plaque to produce energy that they need to survive, as well as harmful acids that can break down the enamel and lead to cavities. A healthy diet and twice daily brushing for the dentist-recommended 2 minutes to remove the plaque are essential to preventing tooth decay.
If plaque is left behind, tooth decay can progress inward and affect the nerves in the pulp of the tooth. This progressive decay can cause symptoms including pain and swelling and may result in tooth loss.
Bacteria can convert fermentable sugars (which are found in many foods) into plaque within 20 minutes. Be sure to remove plaque around your molars with your toothbrush and dental floss every day.
To effectively remove plaque, be sure to brush a minimum of twice daily. Consider switching to an electric toothbrush, brushing with electric can help remove up to 100% more plaque than a regular manual toothbrush. Use floss at least once a day to remove plaque from teeth where its difficult to reach with a regular toothbrush. If it is hard for you to reach your back teeth or molars, consider using interdental brushes, floss picks or a water flosser. Speak to your dental professional about using a fluoride toothpaste and antibacterial mouthwash to help keep your teeth healthy and gums in good condition.
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