You’ve probably heard adults tell kids, “Brush your teeth—you don’t want to get cavities!” Maybe that was you today with your kids, but the truth is cavities can be an issue well into adulthood if we’re not careful.
A cavity is a hole in a tooth that starts to form for various reasons. A tooth’s enamel is essentially the gatekeeper, protecting the inside of the tooth from harmful substances. If that enamel is weakened, bacteria enter the tooth and start deteriorating the innards of the tooth.
We all know the annoyance of a toothache, so the best way to avoid a cavity is to understand the pitfalls that break down the enamel, the bouncer at the club who is not supposed to let bacteria into the tooth party because they always punch holes in things.
Here are 5 factors that can lead to cavities forming:
1-Poor Diet
Sugar is delicious, but the bacteria in your mouth also love sugar. When we regularly consume sugar and processed foods, the bacteria turn it into acid—a very unfriendly thing for your enamel. Examine your diet and see where you might be able to cut back on this very addicting substance slowly. Your teeth and overall health and well-being will thank you!
2-Acid Reflux
We’ve already established that acid is an enamel’s enemy. When you have daily reflux, where acid from your stomach is traveling into your mouth, it can weaken your enamel from daily exposure. Recurring acid reflux is something worth talking to your physician about and will most likely circle back to an examination of your diet.
3-Insufficient Oral Hygiene
We all know we should be brushing twice a day and flossing every day, but life happens, right? We might rush through brushing, skip the flossing, and forget to see the dentist as often as we should. When plaque builds up, it can wear down the enamel, and when the enamel weakens, bacteria set up camp.
4-Dry Mouth
When your mouth is parched, it becomes a playground for bacteria. Saliva is nature’s tool to help wash away debris throughout the day. Snoring or sleeping with your mouth open can dry out your mouth, inviting bacteria to hang out more than usual. Certain medications can cause dry mouth, so pay extra attention to dental hygiene if that is your circumstance. Chewing sugar-free gum throughout the day and drinking a lot of water can also benefit dry mouth.
5- Grinding Your Teeth
The protective enamel wears down when you grind your teeth. If you’re grinding your teeth when awake, you’re most likely doing it due to stress. However, if you grind your teeth at night, you’re obviously doing it subconsciously, so it’s a bit harder to control. Talking to your dentist about a mouth guard can help shield your enamel from the friction of teeth grinding.
All the reasons above point to one common factor that can lead to a cavity: a lack of enamel. Whether you compromise your enamel through poor hygiene or diet, acid reflux, a dry mouth, or grinding your teeth, your enamel is the star of your mouth that needs your attention.
We can determine the health of your enamel and help you maintain or improve your current dental health to avoid the pain of a cavity.