Besides sugar, there are other foods that can increase the risk of cavities. The two most concerning are acidic foods, such as citrus fruits and foods with a lot of carbohydrates. Acidic foods and drinks further aid in the mouth acid's ability to weaken enamel while carbs fuel the bacteria, allowing them to thrive.
Most people think that sugary foods and drinks are the only things that cause cavities. Now, while they're correct that sweet snacks can certainly lead to cavities, there are several other things that can cause cavities to develop. Carbohydrates and starchy foods like pasta and bread can also cause cavities.
The advice you got as a kid — brush your teeth, floss, eat less candy — is still important. But it's becoming more clear that the types of bacteria inhabiting your mouth matter, too. Some people do all the oral hygiene stuff right and still get cavities because of the bacteria living in their mouths.
According to Professor Damien Walmsley for the BDA, people need to brush their teeth whatever their diet consists of. “Irrespective of what you eat, plaque is a sticky biofilm that develops on teeth as a result of the bacteria that naturally live in the mouth.
Maybe you eat an extremely healthy diet that's sugar free, avoid processed foods, and you're into everything natural. You can still get cavities if you're not cleaning your teeth properly every day.
As mentioned earlier, everyone's saliva is composed of different amounts of minerals such as phosphate and calcium. These minerals, along with fluoride and water, work to protect our tooth enamel from bacteria. Some people have more minerals in their saliva than others, giving them an upper hand in fighting cavities.
In general, adults develop an average of three cavities during their lifetimes. This means that the average adult has three or four fillings in their mouth. Some patients end up with ten or more fillings depending on how well they care for their teeth.
Eat Less Food With Added Sugar
The acid produced is what causes your teeth to yellow and lose enamel. Avoid eating a lot of food that contains added sugars, such as junk food. The best food to eat for whiter teeth is crunchy fruits and vegetables (i.e. apples, celery, and carrots) and dairy products.
As with most bodily problems, genetics has an influence on oral health, including cavities. Certain people are more susceptible, whether it be by weaker tooth structure, oral and tooth anatomy, or from other factors. One way or another, genetics plays a role in the number of cavities a person has or will have.
Natural sugars are still sugars, and they affect your mouth the same way. Within 20 seconds of consuming sugar, it combines with the bacteria hanging out in your mouth to form an acid that starts to damage your teeth. As time goes on, this wears away at the layers in your enamel, eventually resulting in a cavity.
When a cavity is just starting to form, you may be able to reverse it by brushing several times a day with a fluoride toothpaste. But if the cavity has grown and has been there for a while, the short answer is you really can't make it go away.
Good oral hygiene can keep it from progressing quickly for tiny cavities, but you will not be able to reverse a cavity that has broken through the enamel.
For all the good brushing does, it will not eliminate the cavity. The bottom line is you do not have the power to stop your cavity from growing. Your cavity will gradually expand to the point that it moves into the pulp chamber and spurs pain. If the cavity reaches the pulp of the tooth, it will require a root canal.
In fact, cavities have now been found in tooth fossils from nearly every prehistoric hominin species studied. They were probably caused by eating certain fruits and vegetation as well as honey. These lesions were often severe, as in the case of cavities found on the teeth of the newly discovered species, Homo naledi.
Sugar's Role In Cavities
However, sugar isn't the lone culprit. Other foods, even healthy ones, can also lead to cavities. Excluding sugar, any food that consists of fermentable carbohydrates can also contribute to tooth decay.
No, sugar doesn't cause cavities, bacteria cause cavities. But, sugar digestion does create bacteria, which, if not properly managed, will lead to not just cavities but also gum disease and may even result tooth loss.
1. Insufficient oral hygiene. The quickest way to welcome cavities is to slack on dental care. Not brushing or flossing regularly, and not using mouthwash or brushing your tongue will leave your teeth vulnerable to decay.
Among adults aged 20 and older, about 90% have had at least one cavity. 1 in 4 adults aged 20 to 64 currently has at least one cavity.
Natural Enamel Thickness & Translucency
This yellowish hue shows through the enamel in almost everyone, but more so for those with naturally thinner or more translucent enamel. So your yellow teeth may be perfectly normal due to your genetics!
However, this damage can be reversed by minerals. Minerals come from the enamel of your teeth and your saliva through a process called remineralisation. It generates minerals like calcium and phosphates, both of which are good for strengthening teeth.
Brushing your teeth is great in the long run, but it can temporarily weaken your enamel. Follow the general rule of waiting thirty minutes after brushing to eat or drink. Better yet, plan your day so brushing happens after eating!
How many cavities can a dentist fill at once? Dentists may fill as many cavities as the patient is comfortable with having filled. With this being said, in most cases, dentists do not recommend having more than 3 cavities filled in one sitting.
Frank Medina, otherwise known as the "King of Windmills," has never had a cavity in his life. That would not be so unusual, except that he is 94 years old. Ripley's Believe it or Not calls him the “oldest man in the world with all his teeth who has never had a cavity."
Philippines. This island nation located in between the South China Sea and the Philippine Sea takes the cake (literally and figuratively) of the worst oral health in the world.