Tooth decay: This is one thing nobody wants to have and yet, it is becoming an increasingly common affliction.

The causes of tooth decay are no longer mysteries.As long as we are ready to observe simple aspects of dental hygiene, we may keep our teeth clean, strong and healthy almost as for the duration of our lives.

If this is true - and it is - why then is tooth decay on the rise? This is the question that this writer intends to answer as this article progresses.

The causes of tooth decay can be reduced to two broad categories. Lack of dental hygiene and eating the wrong things.

Dental hygiene is quite easy to maintain. Brush your teeth first thing in the morning and last thing at night.Floss your teeth on a regular basis and use a mouth wash.Sounds easy right? Most of us may not have any problem with this first category.

Now, the second category is a different kettle of fish entirely.And this is where most of us fall down flat on our faces.Why? Because the things we love to eat are the very things that are bad for our teeth.

Soft drinks, cakes, chocolates, sweets and a whole lot of other sugary foods are simply bad news to our teeth. This is particularly true if we take such things late at night and do not brush our teeth afterward.

So, has the nickel dropped yet? The causes of tooth decay include poor dental hygiene and eating the wrong things.Very cold drinks and very hot food,in particular, can cause the teeth to crack.

And, let us not forget the fact that regular trips to the dentist's can also prevent tooth decay.We can also take advantage of calcium drugs to make the teeth stronger if necessary.

I think it is perfectly in order that I mention this very startling fact. Africans seem to have much better dentition than Europeans, Americans and Asians. Why? The reason is quite simple. They eat bones which make their teeth stronger and, more to the point, they use chewing sticks to clean their teeth.It may surprise you to know that some of these chewing sticks contain fluoride and other active ingredients used in our tooth pastes.

When the Almighty God created Adam,I believe His intention was that Adam would make his journey through life with all his 32 teeth intact.And after all this this time,I believe that it is possible to go through life without the inconvenience of tooth decay.

But this would only be possible if we observe the right habits and avoid the wrong foods.Do the right thing and spare yourself the problem of tooth decay.

Learn more about this author, Emmanuel Osondu.
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