It goes without saying that the majority of people take great care with how they look. One only has to glance at the television or a magazine to see just how wonderfully grooomed we must strive to be. Our hair must be styled just so, and skin must be cleaned, polished and moisturised. However considering how much care people take with their bodies they often neglect their teeth. The range of products available now is staggering, yet tooth decay is still on the increase.

As a child a visit to the dentist is often met with fear and dread. I used to hate the foul tasting treatments with fluoride that I suffered, and the seemingly constant inspections. It is with regret that I have to say that my teeth today are in a poor condition. This is through my own carelessness with my dental routine as well as a liking for eating anything sugary.

Brushing our teeth for an insuficient amount of time will lead to small amounts of food stuffs remaining in our mouths, especially around the teeth. Sadly the bacteria in the mouth can feed off this and replicate at an alarming rate. Bacteria produce acid and it is this acid which causes most harm to our teeth. If the bacteria has a large amount of material to "feed" off then it is obvious that there will be more bacteria and, therefore, more acid and, subsequently, more damage to our teeth. Ultimately the acid will cause cavities and, eventually, the tooth may collapse.

Tooth decay can occur rather quickly if you do not take care of your teeth. The bacteria, streptococcus mutans is the culprit. Whereas the centre of a tooth is soft, the enamel, the outer layer, is very tough. If the enamel becomes damaged it will not be too long before the centre is attacked. Once this happens tooth loss is imminent.

Dentists will tell you that the most common place for cavities to first appear is inbetween the teeth. The good news is that with proper care and attention this need not be the case. As well as brushing teeth, it is extremely important that we all floss. Flossing is the best way of removing food that has become trapped in the small gap between teeth.

Cavities and tooth decay can be kept at bay in many ways. One of these ways is the regular use of mouthwash. Bacteria and acids are reduced by the use of mouthwash as it has an anti-bacterial action. It is not just used for its breath freshening properties.

It is really easy to prevent tooth decay. There is no cast iron guarantee, but surely prevention is better than the treatment. One common reason for tooth decay is not paying special attention to brushing and flossing. Smoking is also a contributor, so do not smoke tobacco. The most common cause is sugar. An excess of fluoride is also a known contributor, not only is fluoride found in dental products but is also added to most water supplies.

If we look after our teeth, visit our dentist regularly, and take heed of his advice, then the chances of decay are greatly reduced. A good oral hygiene routine is essential in eliminating cavities, extractions and pain.