Until dental vaccines are available, tooth dacay can still be battled sucessfully with a combination of dental weapons. Yet surveys suggest that "the general public simlly does not know the best way to protect against tooth decay," says Alice Horowith of the National Institute of Dental Research.
Among the steps recommended for prevention:
----Fluoride, which Horowith calls "the first line of defense against tooth decay."
----Dental sealants are "second only to fluoride" in offering protection frrom cavities, Horowitz says. Unlike fluoride, sealants must be applied to the teeth by a dentist or a dental hygienist.
