Cavities are among the most common dental problems out there, but there’s a lot of misinformation and confusion around them. As a kid, you were probably told that eating too many sweets causes cavities. While that’s partially true, there’s much more to know about these enamel erosions.
From what exactly they are to how you can prevent and treat them, here are 16 essential things everyone should understand about cavities:
1: Cavities are Permanently Damaged Areas of Tooth Enamel
A cavity is a permanently damaged area of your tooth that develops into a hole or opening. They’re caused by a combination of factors that erode the protective enamel covering your teeth. Once a cavity forms, it will continue growing bigger and deeper without proper treatment.
2: They Start as Small Enamel Erosions
Cavities don’t just spontaneously appear as gaping holes in your teeth. They actually begin as minor enamel erosions or white spot lesions. These small areas of demineralised enamel are the first signs that cavity development has begun.
3: Sugar Isn’t the Only Culprit
While consuming lots of sugary foods and drinks is a major cavity catalyst, sugar itself doesn’t directly cause cavities. The problem is that cavity-causing bacteria feed on the sugars, producing enamel-eroding acids as a byproduct.
4: Sticky Foods Are Especially Problematic
Sugary snacks and drinks like candy, cookies, and soda are certainly cavity-promoters because of their high sugar content. However, sticky foods like raisins, honey, and syrup are even worse because they cling to teeth longer, sustaining an acidic environment.
5: Cavities are Caused by Bacteria
The main driver of cavities is bacteria, specifically a strain called Streptococcus mutans. This bacteria thrives in the sticky plaque that builds up on teeth and produces enamel-eroding acids when metabolising sugars and other carbohydrates.
6: Saliva Is Your Mouth’s Natural Defense
Your saliva is packed with minerals like calcium and phosphate that help remineralize and strengthen your enamel. Saliva also helps neutralize cavity-causing acids and wash away food particles and bacteria.
7: Some People Are More Prone to Cavities
Factors like enamel composition, salivary flow, oral bacteria levels, and dietary habits mean some people are simply more prone to cavities than others, even with good oral hygiene. Genetics also plays a role.
8: Cavities Can Strike at Any Age
While most people develop their first cavities as children, cavities can arise at any age if the right conditions exist. Senior adults are especially vulnerable due to dry mouth, medication use, and years of enamel wear.
9: Early Cavities Are
Reversible If caught early enough when cavities are just beginning as white spot lesions, it’s possible to reverse them through remineralization treatments and improved oral hygiene habits.
10: Untreated Cavities Will Progress Deeper
Cavities are progressive. If a cavity isn’t treated promptly, it will continue growing bigger and deeper into the tooth, moving into the inner dentin and even the pulp at the core containing the nerve.
11: Tooth Decay Causes No Pain Initially
One of the most insidious aspects of cavities is that they cause no pain or symptoms in the early stages. By the time a cavity causes a toothache, it’s usually quite deep and advanced.
12: Fluoride Helps Prevent and Reverse Cavities
Fluoride is a mineral that reinforces and rebuilds enamel, helping to prevent cavities from forming and reversing low levels of tooth decay. That’s why fluoride is in toothpaste, drinking water, and tooth cavity treatments.
13: Poor Oral Hygiene Promotes Cavities
Not brushing and flossing daily allows cavity-causing plaque and bacteria to flourish, dramatically increasing your cavity risk. Frequent snacking without brushing also leaves ample time for acids to attack enamel.
14: Other Diseases Can Set the Stage
Besides poor diet and oral hygiene, certain medical conditions can make someone more cavity-prone. Conditions causing dry mouth or acid reflux expose teeth to increased acid erosion, as does binge eating disorders associated with purging.
15: Cavities Don’t Just Go Away
Wishful thinking won’t make a cavity disappear or stop growing. The earlier you treat a cavity, the easier and less expensive the treatments are. Untreated cavities just continue expanding until the tooth can no longer be restored.
16: Proper Treatment is Essential
The right tooth cavity treatment depends on how deep and advanced the decay is. Options range from fluoride treatments and sealants for early cavities to fillings and crowns for more extensive decay. Root canals and extractions may be needed for very advanced decay into the pulp.
Conclusion
Cavities are one of the biggest threats to good dental health from childhood through our senior years. Fortunately, cavities are also highly preventable through simple steps like twice-daily brushing, daily flossing, eating a tooth-friendly diet, and keeping up with professional cleanings and exams.By understanding the real causes and risk factors for tooth decay, you can be proactive about protecting your teeth from cavities. And if a cavity does strike, don’t delay in seeking treatment from dental experts at Smile Ville in South Morang. It helps to have good oral care habits and hygiene.
