Very few of us go through life without experiencing at least one cavity—and most of us will have several within our lifetime. You do, however, have some control over whether or not you will get cavities by the choices you make regarding the foods you eat and the dental hygiene you practice.
Cavities (or dental caries as they are also called) begin when bacteria in your mouth combines with sugars from the foods you eat and creates an acid which attacks the enamel on your teeth. Because plaque is always forming on your teeth and gums, bacteria which is a part of plaque, is always available in your mouth. And once the acid is formed, it continues to attack your teeth for twenty minutes or more.
The best way to prevent cavities is by staying away from foods with a lot of sugar in them. Such foods include cakes, cookies, candy and soft drinks. Even unsweetened fruit juices, honey and raisins are harmful because of their concentrated natural sugars. Fresh fruit is a good choice for people who have a ‘sweet tooth’ because the natural sugar in fruit is ‘washed away’ by the fiber. Sipping on a soda or sweetened tea or coffee throughout the day can be very damaging to your teeth because you are constantly providing the bacteria in your mouth with a ‘sugar hit’ when you sip the sweetened beverage.
The important thing to understand is that sugar in your mouth will combine with bacteria and form the acid that will attack your teeth—and you’ll end up with cavities. The best way to maintain healthy teeth and gums is to eat balanced meals and when snacking, to select items like peanuts, cheese, yogurt and milk, which actually work to clear out any sugars that might be in your mouth.
However, if sweet treats are going to be a part of your life, then eat them with a meal. When sugary treats are eaten with other foods, the sugar/ bacteria interaction is minimized when the sugar binds to the other foods and is carried from your mouth into your digestive track. Along with eating a healthy diet, brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing at least once a day and visiting your dentist regularly for check-ups and cleanings will help to prevent cavities from forming in your teeth. Fluoride is also a strong cavity fighter and can be found either in your water supply or in some brands of toothpaste. Talk to your dentist to make sure that your fluoride intake is sufficient to help you fight dental decay. If you are not getting the fluoride you need from your water supply, your dentist can prescribe fluoride tablets to ensure that you are getting the amount of fluoride that you need.
Sometimes cavities will occur from factors that you cannot control such as dry mouth, respiratory conditions, diabetes or age. If you take care of your teeth in the areas that you can control, you can eliminate or minimize the amount of cavities that you have to deal with in your lifetime.
Kind regards,
Fall Creek Dentistry
Dr. Greenaway attended Indiana University Dental School and graduated with honors in 1999. In addition to taking care of her patients at Fall Creek Dentistry, she has traveled to Romania, Kosovo, and Honduras to provide dental outreach. Please visit her site at http://fallcreekdentistry.com
Source: Can Cavities Be Prevented? |
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