Protecting your teeth primarily refers to taking the right steps to prevent cavities from forming. Cavities destroy teeth, but it takes time for a cavity to form. If you care about your teeth and spend the right amount of time brushing and flossing, you may wonder if there is anything else you can do to keep the cavities away. Here are three things that may help.

Drink Through A Straw

When you drink beverages other than water, you may want to get into the habit of drinking through a straw. By doing this, more of the sugars and acids in the drinks will bypass your teeth, which means your teeth will be at a lower risk for developing cavities. You will need to try to position the straw far enough past your teeth for this to help though.

Eat More Cheese

Cheese is a dairy product, which means it contains calcium, and calcium is good for your teeth. By eating cheese, you might be strengthening your teeth in this way, because calcium can trigger your mouth to make more saliva. Saliva is a natural cleanser for teeth, but there is another effect cheese offers on the teeth.

Cheese has the ability to boost the pH level in your mouth. The pH level in your mouth can either put you at risk for tooth erosion, or it can protect your teeth. As the pH level rises, your teeth will be more protected against cavities. Because of this, you may want to begin eating cheese every day.

Eat Sugar-Free Candy

Eating sugar-free candy and chewing on sugar-free gum can also help you prevent cavities, and this occurs in several ways:

• It increases saliva production – When you have more saliva in your mouth, your teeth can stay cleaner.
• Xylitol stops plaque from sticking – When you eat sugar-free candy, look for brands that use the sweetener called Xylitol. This specific sweetener has the ability to stop plaque from sticking to your teeth, and plaque on the teeth leads to cavities.

You may want to get in the habit of chewing a piece of gum after each meal if you cannot brush your teeth, because this can help you clean out your mouth.

There are many ways to prevent cavities from forming on your teeth. If you would like to learn more about this, contact a family dental clinic like Four Corners Dental Group Fairbanks.