I brush my teeth twice a day, so why do I still get cavities?
If you’ve never had a dental issue before, you might not know how difficult it is to treat it and manage the pain. Dental cavities, also known as ‘caries’ or ‘tooth decay,’ are the formation of tiny holes or openings in the teeth as a result of damages to hard surface areas of the teeth.
Have you noticed you have holes in your teeth? Dental health seems to be overlooked, but teeth decay and cavities are indeed one of the most common health problems in the world today. They are much more common among children and teenagers, but you will also find it amongst older adults.
So long as you have teeth, you are prone to developing teeth cavities. The good news here is that you can protect yourself from teeth cavities and decay by brushing your teeth regularly, flossing, and paying regular visits to a dentist.
The bad part about teeth cavities is that if they are left untreated, they get larger to the extent that they affect deeper layers of your teeth.
What causes teeth cavities?
One of the most common causes of teeth decay and teeth cavities is bad teeth hygiene. When you don’t brush your teeth adequately (as soon as you finish eating or drinking), you are paving the way for the formation of cavities or holes in your teeth.
But, what about people who brush their teeth regularly and still have cavities form in their teeth?
Here is the thing, Holes in the teeth are typically caused by teeth decay, and a number of factors asides from not brushing your teeth can contribute to dental decay and cavities.
- Eating and snacking on sugary foods: Do you enjoy eating snacks and sipping sugary drinks? It is bad for your dental as well as your overall health! Eating such foods fuels the bacteria in your mouth, thus, making them produce acidic substances, which launches an attack on your teeth and causes fast decay.
- Your tooth location: You might have noticed that teeth holes occur more in the premolars and molars. This is because these sets of teeth have pits, crannies, grooves, and different roots for the collection of food particles. This makes it even harder to clean them.
So while you brush and clean your canines and incisors, do you pay special attention to your molars and premolars? You ought to.
- A constantly dry mouth: Your salivary glands produce saliva for a number of reasons. One of those reasons is to aid digestion. Another reason is to help prevent dental decay by washing off food particles and plaques from your teeth. See your doctor if you notice reduced production of saliva or dry mouth.
- When you don’t get enough fluoride: Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that helps prevent the formation of dental cavities. Fluoride can help reverse tooth damage in its early stage, and this is more reason why you need it. If you have not been getting enough of it or you do not use toothpaste that contains fluoride, you are prone to develop teeth cavities.
Do you practice good teeth hygiene but still worried about cavities? Here are more tips for you:
- Eat the right nutrition (tooth-healthy foods)
- Rinse your mouth occasionally with fluoride
- Consider using dental sealants.
- Antibacterial treatments might help.
- Visit your dentist regularly.
If you already have teeth cavities or you just want to check up with a dentist, KRB dentistry is here providing you with the best dental services. Contact us today for any inquiries.
References/Links
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cavities/symptoms-causes/syc-20352892
https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/tooth-decay/more-info
https://www.healthline.com/symptom/tooth-decay