Whenever you go to the dentist, the primary concern for most people is that they might find out they have new cavities. Taking care of cavities involves a lot of pain, can be extremely expensive, and can eat up and a lot of your valuable time. It’s never fun. The good news is that there are things you can know about overall dental health which you can practice to help prevent future cavities. Some cavities cannot be avoided, but the more you know, the better off you will be.
What are cavities?
To put it simply, a cavity is like a hole or a feeble spot in your tooth. Cavities can form either on the outside of your tooth (the part that is visible) or the inside. Cavities that form internally will have to be spotted with an x-ray and are generally more difficult to repair than external ones.
How can I get cavities?
The most common cause of cavities is the buildup of plaque. This is a fine white substance that forms over the outside of your teeth. Plaque will accumulate when things like sugar and bacteria come in contact with your teeth and are not cleaned properly through flossing or brushing. As a result, cavities will form on either sides of the teeth. The tricky part about plaque is that it is the same color as your teeth so it cannot be easily detected on your own.
How can I prevent cavities?
Having regular visits to the dentist is the best way to avoid cavities. Dentists have the proper tools necessary to detect and remove the buildup of plaque on your teeth. The best thing you can do on your own time is to make sure that you floss and brush your teeth after every meal. This will get rid of the plaque before it can accumulate. When you brush, make sure you are covering all sides of your teeth and not just the front. There are special toothbrushes you can buy that are shaped a certain way to reach all sides of your teeth, thus giving you a more thorough cleaning. Many people brush regularly but forget to floss. This is probably the most common reason why cavities form. Flossing should happen at least once daily.
Keep in mind that plaque buildup is the main cause of external cavities. Internal cavities have different causes which can be hereditary – genetic predisposition to tooth decay passed on from parents. They also are commonly formed from drinking water without a significant percentage of fluoride. This is more common in areas that rely heavily on water from wells. Lack of fluoride exposure (especially at a young age) can cause internal cavities. As mentioned above, internal cavities can only be detected by your dentist via x-ray procedures.
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