An area of the tooth with its mineral content dissolved away, forming a cavity, is called a "tooth decay". Any surface of the tooth that is exposed to oral cavity can experience tooth decay but not the structures within the bone. Avoiding tooth decay is critical if you would like to keep them healthy until old age. Here are five ways to prevent such:

- Fluoride Therapy. One way of preventing tooth decay is by delivering flouride to the teeth, either topically or systematically. Intake of tablets or drops is usually done for flouride supplementation. If the area has fluoridated public water supplies, tablets or drops are no longer needed.

- Brushing your teeth. Home is where the most important part of tooth care happens, as your Cincinnati dentist would say. Regular dental checkups would not be enough so brushing and flossing daily is needed to prevent oral diseases. Dentists would advice brushing three times a day to keep teeth strong and healthy.

- Regular checkups with your dentist. Of course, the most important thing to remember is to consult the help of an expert. Dentists are the best and the only people you should consult in regards to teeth. They are equipped to handle any problems that you have with oral health.

- Dental sealant. The procedure involves covering a tooth or teeth with plastic material to help protect it against tooth decay and cavities. Dental sealants are applied in a dentist `s office.

- Dietary snacks. Blood sugar can be altered by sweets so it is better to limit intake of sugar-rich food. If you avoid snacks, you may be depriving your body of nutrition from food. Food rich in proteins and fat are good snacks.

It is very important to take good care of our teeth because this is what people would usually see. Displaying the best white smile, we have to admit, can be one of our greatest features. Following each advice mentioned above is important for maintaining that perfect smile.