Whether you like it or not, nature supplies you with only one set of adult teeth.
With proper care, you can end up keeping your teeth your whole life.
Without care, you can end up having to wear uncomfortable and expensive dentures.
A big part of tooth care is preventing cavities from boring holes through the hard outer layer of tooth and into the vulnerable soft inner layer.
Cavities are caused by certain bad bacteria which live in your mouth.
Individually, they can't do much harm.
But when traveling around in groups, they form that clear, sticky film on your teeth known as plaque.
Plaque converts sugars from the foods you eat into acids which attack your tooth enamel.
After a period of time, the enamel weakens, the acids gain entry to your inner tooth, and plaque has won again.
Cheese -- the Secret Anti-Cavity Weapon That's right, cheese.
Most hard cheeses contain enzymes that fight tooth disease with a vengeance.
If you eat a sliver or two of hard cheese every day, you'll fortify your gums and teeth with microscopic cavity fighters that could prevent thousands of dollars in dental bills, not to mention pain and suffering.
Raw Vegetables Raw fruits and vegetables are especially good because they promote the formation of saliva, a natural mouth rinse.
They also contain certain enzymes that help scrub your teeth free of harmful bacteria.
Also, broccoli and dark leafy greens, such as spinach, contain copious amounts of calcium, a dental building block.
Prevention is Still King In the war against plaque, your first job is to stop the formation of plaque.
To do this, avoid hard candies, caramels, refined sugar products, or anything else you might snack on which gives plaque instant food sources.
If you feel a need to eat high sugar foods, eat them with meals instead of between, and brush directly after each meal or snack to cut down on the presence of sugars and plaque in your mouth.
Your Major Weapons Your major weapons are a toothbrush, a roll of floss, and a good fluoride toothpaste.
Use them often, and make sure you brush your teeth with up and down and circular motions.
Remember to brush your tongue, because it can be a major plaque harbor.
And don't forget those back teeth just because they are hard to reach! Toothbrushes wear out with time, so you need to replace them frequently.
The average toothbrush can last two to four months.
But if you've recently had a cold, or it seems like the brush isn't doing its job, replace immediately, because brushes can hang onto germs and reinfect you.
The best kind of toothbrush has soft bristles and a curved handled that allows you to reach hard-to-get areas.
Planet Xylitol The commercials that urge you to chew a stick of sugarless gum after each meal to reduce plaque buildup a right-to a certain extent.
When you chew gum containing xylitol, you can indeed reduce the amount of plaque inside your mouth.
Check the ingredient's list on the side of your favorite pack to make sure your gum contains this important ingredient.
Speaking of mouth rinses, don't bother with over-the- counter mouth rinses which say they reduce plaque.
A good brushing and flossing can do the same job while costing a lot less.
Finally, see your dentist and have your teeth professionally cleaned regularly.
The dentist can catch cavities in their early stages and may spot more serious problems, like periodontal disease, before they can seriously affect you.