The oldest evidence of tooth decay in humans dates back around 14,000 years to a Paleolithic molar from Italy, showing manipulation with stone tools to clean a large cavity, while even older mammal cavities, possibly from fruit, are found in 55-million-year-old fossils. For humans, decay was linked to carbohydrate-rich diets, with finds showing drilled teeth from 9,000 years ago and beeswax fillings from 6,500 years ago, predating written records.
Findings described evidence of tooth decay as rare, and attributed the extremely low rates of decay to 3 things: A balanced, nutritious diet. Very low sugar consumption – granulated sugar didn't exist yet. Fluorine in the soil and water near the volcano.
Between the ages of 50 to 64, you have about a 10% chance of having no teeth remaining at all, and this number jumps up to 13% when you get to age 74. Once past the age of 74, the number jumps even higher to 26%.
Decay most often occurs in your back teeth — your molars and premolars. These teeth have lots of grooves, pits and crannies, and multiple roots that can collect food particles. That's why they're harder to keep clean than your smoother, easy-to-reach front teeth. Certain foods and drinks.
Enamel can repair itself by using minerals from saliva, and fluoride from toothpaste or other sources. But if the tooth decay process continues, more minerals are lost. Over time, the enamel is weakened and destroyed, forming a cavity. A cavity is permanent damage that a dentist has to repair with a filling.
If the damage extends below the gum line or reaches the root, the tooth may be beyond saving. Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is caused by plaque buildup that leads to inflammation and infection of the gums. In advanced stages, the gums pull away from the teeth, causing them to loosen.
The 2-2-2 rule in dentistry is a simple guideline for good oral hygiene: brush twice a day, for two minutes each time, and visit your dentist twice a year, helping to prevent cavities, gum disease, and other dental problems by establishing consistent habits for plaque removal and professional monitoring.
Tooth decay is often caused by having too much sugary food and drink and not cleaning your teeth and gums regularly. See a dentist as soon as possible if you think you or your child has tooth decay.
The "333 dental rule" refers to two different concepts: a hygiene guideline (brush 3 times a day for 3 minutes, replace brush every 3 months) and a temporary toothache relief method (take 3 ibuprofen tablets, 3 times a day, for 3 days). The hygiene rule promotes better habits, while the pain management rule helps control inflammation and pain before a dental visit, but requires caution as it's not a cure.
Stage 4: Pulp Decay
As you move deeper into the tooth below the dentin, you find the pulp chamber, where the most tender, soft tissue exists, including nerves, blood vessels and other connective tissue. If decay reaches the pulp, this can cause pressure, pain and swelling in the tooth.
The worst teeth to get pulled are usually impacted wisdom teeth (third molars), especially lower ones, due to their deep roots, location in dense bone, proximity to nerves, and difficulty accessing them, often requiring surgery; other challenging extractions involve heavily decayed molars (upper or lower) or infected teeth with abscesses, leading to higher pain and complex recovery.
Signs you're aging well include physical vitality (easy movement, good balance, strength for daily tasks), sharp cognitive function (curiosity, learning new skills, remembering details), and strong emotional/social health (staying connected, finding purpose, managing stress). It's about maintaining independence, a positive mindset, and actively engaging in activities you enjoy, not just looking younger, though good skin/hair can be indicators too.
First, let's set the stage: Most kids start losing their baby teeth around age 6, and this process typically wraps up by the time they're 12. One simple way to track things is by keeping an eye on your child's four front teeth. They should start falling out between ages 6 and 7.5. If you notice they're not?
It seems that the Inuit do not brush their teeth at all, and oral hygiene is delegated to a handful of water used to rinse after meals. Yet it is a known fact that the Inuit simply do not suffer from tooth decay. The question that many anthropologists have asked themselves is why.
Now this is not to say that Jesus and his contemporaries had no dental hygiene at all. We know that ancient peoples used chew sticks, bird feathers, and twigs to clean their teeth.
Denmark is often cited as a country with exemplary dental health. Danish citizens have some of the healthiest teeth globally, attributed to widespread practices of good oral hygiene and a strong dental health system.
When you eat sugary foods or sip sugary drinks for long periods of time, plaque bacteria use that sugar to produce acids that attack your enamel, the hard surface of your tooth. Most carbonated soft drinks, including diet soda, are acidic and therefore, bad for your teeth.
Code 1 – Slight bleeding when probed, no calculus or gingival pockets under 3.5mm. Code 2 – Slight bleeding when probed, Calculus or Plaque present and gingival pockets under 3.5mm. Code 3 – Calculus and Plaque present under the gum margin and gingival pockets between 3.5 – 5.5mm.
The golden rule for oral hygiene encompasses a consistent and comprehensive approach to dental care. You can ensure a healthy and beautiful smile by brushing twice daily, flossing daily, using mouthwash, maintaining a nutritious diet, staying hydrated, avoiding tobacco, and visiting your dentist regularly.
From this unique experiment we have discovered that coke cola rots teeth the fastest. Apple juice came 2nd because Apple juice has natural sugars which rot teeth.
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If you have dry mouth—whether from genetics, medications, or stress—you're at higher risk for cavities. So when someone says, “I never brush my teeth and have no cavities,” they might simply have protective, high-quality saliva that naturally balances their oral ecosystem.
But is brushing our teeth three times a day too much? The short answer is no, brushing teeth 3 times a day is not too much. In fact, the American Dental Association recommends brushing teeth at least twice a day. However, there is more to good dental hygiene than just brushing frequently.
Don't rinse with water straight after toothbrushing
Don't rinse your mouth immediately after brushing, as it'll wash away the concentrated fluoride in the remaining toothpaste. Rinsing dilutes it and reduces its preventative effects.