Excellent oral health is a vital aspect encompassing the well-being of your gums, teeth, and your entire oral-facial system, influencing how you chew and speak and the aesthetics of your smile. One of the most common oral health conditions is dental cavities, also known as tooth decay.
Cavities can sneak up on you, and many times you will not notice you have them until you feel the affected tooth become painful or sensitive to various stimuli, including cold, hot, or sour foods and beverages. Fortunately, there are several preventive measures you can take to maintain healthy, cavity-free teeth.
By practicing preventive care, you reduce the risk of cavities, which can lead to tooth damage or infection if left untreated. If you are wondering what you should and should not do to prevent cavities in your and your loved ones’ teeth, this article is for you.
A Look at What Cavities are and their Causes
Tooth decay usually starts with the deterioration of your tooth enamel (the hard outer layer of your tooth). When you consume starches and sugars, they interact with the bacteria in your mouth, forming acids that progressively demineralize the tooth enamel, leading to the development of small holes on the affected tooth. These holes are medically known as cavities and could have a severe and lasting impact on your life when you leave them untreated.
Some of the common causes of tooth decay among most people include the following:
- Bacteria in your mouth
- Sipping sugary beverages
- Snacking a lot
- Poor oral hygiene habits
While cavities are common among children and teenagers, even adults can develop them when plaque builds up on their teeth. A plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on your tooth enamel due to the food you consume, especially sugary foods.
When the bacteria within the plaque feast on the sugary particles, they release acidic excretions, which erode your tooth enamel, leading to cavities. Large cavities can be extremely painful and bothersome, but tiny cavities could be asymptomatic, meaning you might not notice you have them.
That is why you should schedule regular dental appointments with your dentist for examination using clinical examination and, when necessary, dental X-rays to determine whether you have cavities or are at risk of developing them. Nonetheless, here are common symptoms you could experience or notice if you have a cavity in your tooth:
- Tooth sensitivity when eating cold, warm, or sour foods
- Sharp pain in the affected tooth, especially when biting or chewing food
- Brown or black stains on your teeth
- Visible holes in your teeth
- Bad breath
If you notice any of the above symptoms, you should schedule an appointment with your family dentist as soon as possible because they are some of the indicators of tooth cavities. The sooner you visit a dentist after experiencing enamel demineralization, the higher the chance of reversing the condition and avoiding more complex treatment procedures.
Tips to Help You Keep Cavities at Bay
While cavities are common dental health issues worldwide, this does not mean you or your loved ones will develop them at some point in your lives. Early-stage cavities (enamel demineralization) may be reversible, but by taking proactive measures, you can prevent them from occurring in the first place. Here are helpful tips on how to prevent tooth decay and cavities.
- Brush and Floss Your Teeth Properly
Regular tooth brushing remains one of the most effective and easiest ways to keep cavities at bay. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), you should brush your teeth at least twice daily, preferably once you wake up and before you sleep at night. Brushing your teeth regularly with fluoridated toothpaste helps remove plaque from tooth surfaces.
Fluoridated toothpaste also contains fluoride, a critical mineral that helps strengthen your teeth and make them more resistant to acid erosion.
It is also worth noting that aggressive tooth brushing does not necessarily lead to cleaner or whiter teeth. Instead, aggressive tooth brushing weakens your enamel, increasing your risk of cavities. The best way to brush your teeth is using a soft-bristle toothbrush by moving it in gentle circular motions for about two minutes. A soft toothbrush helps prevent unnecessary gum injury during tooth brushing.
Flossing your teeth at least twice daily is also advisable. Flossing between your teeth helps remove any stuck food particles that could create an ideal environment for cavity-causing bacteria to thrive. Although using string-made dental floss is effective, you should also consider other floss alternatives, such as:
- Pre-threaded floss
- Water flossers
- Dental picks
- Air flossers
- Interdental flossers
Consistent tooth flossing and brushing are key to lessening the risk of cavities and maintaining a healthy smile throughout your lifetime.
- Eat a Balanced Diet and Limit Your Intake of Sugary Foods
Your dietary habits are also important for preventing cavities. Eat nutritious, balanced meals to boost your teeth’s health. Frequent consumption of sugary and acidic beverages, including soda and juices, can increase your risk of cavities. If you have to consume these beverages, consider using a straw to prevent them from coming into direct contact with your tooth surface.
Consider cutting back on carbohydrates, including bread and chips, as they can stick to your teeth and promote plaque buildup. Whenever you snack on these foods, you should wait for at least 20 to 60 minutes before you brush your teeth because these foods and beverages can soften your enamel, and brushing too soon could damage it.
Some of the foods that you should consider incorporating into your diet to strengthen and boost your dental health include:
- Eggs
- Calcium-rich dairy products, including cheese and yogurt
- High-fiber fruits
- Fibrous vegetables, including celery and carrots
- Certain nuts, including almonds and cashews
While it is okay to eat sugary foods, you should do so in moderation because sugar is a favorite food of cavity-causing bacteria.
- Drink Fluoridated Tap Water
In addition to being crucial for your overall health, drinking plenty of fluoridated water helps rinse particles off your teeth’s surfaces, strengthens your tooth enamel, and helps keep cavities at bay. If you are hesitant to drink your tap water, you can buy bottled alternatives that contain fluoride.
Drinking plenty of water daily also keeps you hydrated and increases saliva production. Adequate saliva in your mouth helps neutralize the acids produced by cavity-causing bacteria.
If you are at risk of tooth decay, and you do not have access to fluoridated water where you live, your dentist could recommend fluoride treatments. Fluoride treatments can help reverse tooth decay at its earliest stage (demineralization). While it is a quick treatment, its effects can last up to 6 months.
The treatment typically involves biting a custom-made tray filled with fluoride for a period of time before removing it.
- Consider Using Dental Sealants
Dental sealants are a thin protective coating that your dentist uses to shield those shallow grooves on your tooth’s chewing surfaces (premolars and molars) from harmful cavity-causing bacteria. The purpose of the grooves in your molars and premolars is to help you chew food, but when food becomes trapped inside them, you could develop tooth decay or cavities over time.
Your dentist could recommend dental sealants as part of a preventative plan if you are at risk of cavities. Once the dentist applies the dental sealant to your teeth, he/she will cure it with UV light to harden it, thereby minimizing the risk of cavities caused by enamel erosion. Some of the materials your dentist or his/her lab technician uses to make dental sealants include medical-grade:
- Glass ionomers
- Resin (synthetic or plant)
While teenagers and children are common candidates for dental sealants, adults without dental fillings or decay can also benefit from this preventive dentistry procedure. Dental sealants can serve you for several years before they require replacement, but you need to schedule regular appointments with your dentist to check them.
- Replace Worn-Out Dental Fillings
Dental fillings play a pivotal role in restorative dentistry, helping keep your teeth healthy and functional. However, over time, dental fillings can crack, loosen, or wear down, necessitating immediate replacement. In addition to affecting the aesthetics of your smile, worn-out dental fillings can increase your risk of tooth decay and cavities.
While fillings are durable, certain factors can cause them to wear over time, including the location of the filling, the type of material used, and your oral hygiene habits. Common materials your dentist can use to make dental fillings include amalgam, gold, and composite resin, each with its own distinct lifespan.
Below are some of the signs that you need to schedule an appointment with your dentist to replace your worn-out dental fillings:
- Visible cracks around the filling
- Staining or discoloration on the filling
- Increased discomfort or sensitivity in the restored tooth
- Decay around the filling
- A feeling that the filling is shifting or loose
If you have a restored tooth, you should never overlook the need for frequent dental visits, as they allow your dentist to assess the effectiveness of the restoration and determine whether a replacement is necessary. Aside from restoring the integrity of your teeth, replacing worn-out dental fillings helps prevent cavities and other complications that could require extensive, costly treatments.
- Quit Smoking and Chewing Tobacco Products
Smoking cigarettes could be harmful to several organs and parts of your body, including the teeth. Many people, when they speak about the health effects of smoking cigarettes, often overlook the impact of this habit on the user’s oral health. In addition to causing teeth discoloration and staining, smoking could increase your risk of developing cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer.
The chemicals in tobacco can create an acidic environment in your mouth, creating a favorable environment for harmful cavity-causing bacteria. If you smoke cigarettes or chew other tobacco products, discussing the issue with your dentist would be brilliant. A reliable dentist can offer guidance and create a plan to help you kick out this detrimental habit.
- Chew Xylitol Gum and Candies Daily
Chewing xylitol gum and candies at least four times daily, especially after meals, can help starve the cavity-causing bacteria, also known as Streptococcus mutans. The naturally occurring sugars present in xylitol, a sugar alcohol, and candies inhibit bacterial growth, preventing them from producing harmful acidic excretions that erode your enamel.
Additionally, chewing xylitol gum, especially after meals, helps boost saliva production, which neutralizes acidic excretions produced by bacteria and washes away food particles lingering on your tooth surface. The antimicrobial properties of xylitol help prevent cavities by inhibiting the growth of Streptococcus mutans.
- Practice Oil Pulling
Oil pulling is an ancient Indian procedure that dates back over 3000 years. As the name suggests, this procedure involves swishing oil around your mouth for about 10 minutes, like mouthwash. One notable benefit of oil pulling is that it helps reduce harmful bacteria in your mouth, thereby lessening the risk of cavities.
While you can practice this procedure with almost any oil type, extra-virgin coconut oil is recommended for its pleasant taste. According to a 2016 study of about 60 adults, oil pulling using coconut oil for about ten minutes daily helps lessen the number of Streptococcus mutans in your mouth in as little as two weeks compared to distilled water.
- Ask Your Dentist About Disinfecting and Antiseptic Treatments
If the dentist determines that your tooth decay is due to a medical condition, he/she may recommend disinfecting and antiseptic mouthwash rinses, including chlorhexidine, and other treatments. Mouthwash can reach nearly every part of your mouth, helping you clean areas that daily flossing and brushing could miss.
- Schedule Regular Appointments With Your Dentist
In addition to your home-based dental and oral care routines, scheduling regular dental appointments with your dentist can help prevent cavities. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends having your teeth professionally cleaned by a dentist at least twice a year, or every 6 months, whichever comes first.
While a toothbrush helps remove some plaque from your teeth, stains and tartar buildup require a dentist’s intervention. During your routine dental visits, your dentist will thoroughly clean your teeth to remove stubborn stains or plaque buildup that your toothbrush cannot remove. Routine teeth cleaning can help prevent cavities and gum disease, helping you maintain the aesthetic appeal of your smile.
Regular dental visits also allow your dentist to perform a thorough examination and diagnosis of your mouth and teeth to determine whether you are at risk of cavities or other dental health issues. When your dentist detects the cavities early, he/she can recommend various remineralization treatments to reverse the problem, including fluoridated toothpaste.
When looking for a reliable dentist to help you and your family stay on top of your dental and oral health, you should consider his/her:
- Reputation
- Qualifications and experience
- Availability
- Cost of services
Generally speaking, preventing cavities does not have to be complicated. By incorporating the above tips into your dental care regimen, you can significantly reduce your risk of cavities.
Common FAQs About Cavities
As mentioned in the previous paragraph, cavities are a dental health issue that affects several people worldwide. Hence, it is natural for people to be curious about what they are and how to prevent them. Here are frequently asked questions (FAQs) that several people ask about dental cavities:
- What Happens When You Leave a Cavity Untreated for a Prolonged Period?
If you leave a cavity for too long, the decay will worsen and compromise the inner chambers of your tooth, including the pulp section, which houses several nerves and blood vessels. While the early stages of tooth demineralization are reversible, once cavities deepen, reversal may be impossible.
Nonetheless, your dentist can explore several other treatments to fix the problem and protect your dental health, including root canal therapy. If root canal therapy is not an option, the dentist will likely recommend extraction of the affected tooth because bacteria could cause an abscess and other life-threatening infections.
- If My Cavity is Painful, is it too Late to save the Affected Tooth?
No, it is not too late, and that is a sign that the decay or infection has spread to the inner nervous layers of your tooth. When left unchecked, the infection could eventually weaken your tooth roots, necessitating an extraction. However, when you schedule an appointment with a dentist as soon as possible, the dentist could save the tooth through a root canal procedure.
During this procedure, the dentist will remove the infected pulp tissue (blood vessels and nerves), disinfect the tooth to eliminate harmful bacteria, and seal the cavity with a tooth-colored composite resin.
Find a Credible Dentist Near Me
Cavities can be painful and aesthetically unappealing, but preventing tooth decay does not have to be complicated. Incorporating the above tips into your overall dental and oral care routine can significantly lessen your chances of developing cavities.
We invite you to call our seasoned dentists at Agoura Hills Advanced Dentistry at 818-878-7300 if you need to begin the journey of protecting your teeth from cavities and other dental issues. Even if you have cavities, our dentist can explore various treatments to reverse the condition, including dental fillings.