Look beyond how often you brush
A brush may miss tight spaces, the edges of restorations or areas around braces. Ask the dental team to show you where plaque is collecting and which tools would make those areas easier to clean.
Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and clean between teeth daily. Use gentle technique; scrubbing harder is not a solution for recurrent decay and can create other problems.
Check the daily patterns
Frequent snacks or long periods of sipping sugary drinks can increase acid exposure. A dry mouth may also make teeth more vulnerable. Tell your dentist about medications, a change in saliva or waking with a dry mouth.
Do not discontinue a medicine to try to solve dry mouth. Your dental and medical clinicians can discuss appropriate options. Keep a short record of typical meals, snacks and drinks if you are unsure where to start.
Ask for a prevention plan
A plan may include specific home-care changes, fluoride treatment, sealants where appropriate and a follow-up schedule based on your needs. Your dentist can explain which teeth need restoration and which areas can be monitored or treated preventively.
Ask how progress will be checked. Cavities can develop without obvious pain, so waiting for symptoms is not a reliable way to judge whether the cycle has stopped. Prevention and treatment work together; a new filling does not remove the factors that allowed decay to start.
Further reading
American Dental Association: Cavities ↗
General education, not a diagnosis or an individual treatment recommendation. Ask your dental professional about your own care.