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Battling Tooth Decay

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Also indexed as:Cavities, Dental Cavities

Keep that smile on your face by protecting and strengthening your teeth and gums. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful.

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Health information provided by Aisle7

Keep that smile on your face by protecting and strengthening your teeth and gums. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful.

Protect your pearly whites
Try over-the-counter toothpastes (Gel-Tin, Stop) and mouthwashes (ACT, Fluorigard) to help protect your teeth and make them stronger
Discover xylitol
Chew gum containing xylitol to reduce the activity of cavity-causing bacteria
Talk to your dentist
Ask about prescription-strength fluoride gels (Prevident, Prevident Plus), tablets (Luride), and rinses (Fluorinse)
Battle the bad bugs
Inhibit cavity-causing bacteria by adding lactobacillus GG to children’s milk
Pass up sticky sweets
Cut down on cavity-causing bacteria by avoiding sugary foods that stick to your teeth or stay in the mouth for a long time

These recommendations are not comprehensive and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or pharmacist. Continue reading for more in-depth, fully referenced information.

About This Condition

Tooth decay is the gradual breakdown of the tooth, beginning with the enamel surface and eventually progressing to the inner pulp.

Tooth decay is caused by acids produced by certain mouth bacteria in dental plaque. Factors that affect this process include oral hygiene, diet, meal frequency, saliva production, and heredity. Teeth with significant decay are said to have caries, or cavities.

Symptoms

People with tooth decay may have tooth pain, including sensitivity to cold food and drinks.

Healthy Lifestyle Tips

The ADA recommends regular tooth brushing—daily brushing, ideally after each meal.¹ Although thorough brushing varies from person to person, five to ten strokes in each area should be adequate.² Toothpastes containing 1,000 to 2,500 ppm (1 to 2.5 mg per gram) of fluoride have been shown to reduce caries risk.³

A recent population survey found blood lead levels were associated with the amount of dental caries in children and adults. The authors estimated that lead exposure is responsible for roughly 10% of dental caries in young Americans.⁴ For this and other health reasons, known and potential sources of lead exposure should be avoided. Common sources of lead exposure may include paint, foods grown near roadways, and water from lead pipes.⁵

Eating Right

Diet is the key to managing many diseases and to improving general quality of life. For this condition, scientific research has found benefit in the following healthy eating tips.

Recommendation	Why	Get started
Choose whole grains and unprocessed foods	A diet high in whole grains and low in processed foods is a healthful choice that probably helps defend against tooth decay.	Learn More
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Pass up sticky sweets	Cut down on cavity-causing bacteria by avoiding sugary foods that stick to your teeth or stay in the mouth for a long time.	Learn More
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Drug	Common brands
Sodium Fluoride	Fluor-A Day Luride PreviDent	Learn More

Drug	Common brands
Sodium Fluoride	Fluor-A Day Luride PreviDent	Learn More

References

Learn more about Aisle7, the company.

Learn more about the authors of Aisle7 products.

The information presented in Aisle7 is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. Self-treatment is not recommended for life-threatening conditions that require medical treatment under a doctor's care. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires June 2013.

Important Walmart Disclaimer: All content, including but not limited to, recipe and health information provided in Healthy Living, is for educational purposes only. Such content is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the diagnosis, treatment and advice of a medical professional. Such content does not cover all possible side effects of any new or different health program. Consult your medical professional for guidance before changing or undertaking a new diet or exercise program. Advance consultation with your physician is particularly important if you are under eighteen (18) years old, pregnant, nursing, or have health problems.

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