The Cost of a Cavity

Cavities can be painful and inconvenient, but data shows that over a person’s lifetime, a single cavity can also have serious economic consequences.

When a patient practices good oral hygiene and regularly visits the dentist, cavities — and their associated costs — are almost entirely preventable.

Here are a few cavity prevention tips to get you started:

1. Brush your teeth at least twice a day using fluoride-containing toothpaste.
   
2. Floss every day to remove food debris from in between the teeth.
3. Eat healthy snacks and limit the amount of sugary drinks you consume.
4. Use a mouth rinse that has been clinically proven to reduce plaque.
5. Chew xylitol or sugarless gums to increase the flow of saliva in your mouth.
6. Ask your dentist about dental sealants, a protective coating that seals off the grooves and crannies that tend to collect food in the teeth most likely to get cavities.