The Cavity Free Club is for children 12 years old and younger who are seen for routine exams and cleanings and have no cavities since their last visit. Patients who are cavity free fill out a Cavity Free Club Ticket to place in our drawing box. Every quarter we draw two lucky patients, one boy and one girl. The winners are then awarded a new bicycle!
What is a Cavity?
Cavities are small holes caused by bacteria that form on your teeth . The bacteria is left behind from food and drinks, especially those that contain high amounts of sugar. This is why it is very important to brush your teeth TWICE daily. If bacteria is left behind, it will start to eat away at your teeth forming little holes that are called "cavities." It is very important to have cavities filled by your dentist or they will continue to grow bigger.
What Can I Do to Prevent Cavities?
There are lots of things you can do to help prevent cavities starting with a good brushing schedule at home. You should always make sure to brush your teeth two times a day, once in the morning and once at night before you go to bed. It is very important to remember not to eat or drink anything except water after you brush your teeth before bed.
Sugary food such as candy, gum with sugar, soft drinks and some juices should be consumed in small doses or avoided altogether. These foods leave a sticky film on your teeth that stays there until it is brushed away. This is where the sugar bugs hide and if left for too long they start to eat away at your teeth. Yikes!
Floss! Floss! Floss! Make sure you floss at least once a day to get rid of all the sugar bugs in between your teeth.
Drink lots of water and eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables like apples, oranges and carrots. Your teeth will love you!
Visit our office regularly for exams and cleanings. This will ensure we can catch problems before they start and we can see if you are doing a good job with your cleaning routine.
