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.
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.
Genetics – Some people are simply born being more susceptible to the type of bacteria that cause cavities. Tooth Anatomy – People with crowded teeth have a lot of nooks and crannies where plaque and cavity-causing bacteria accumulate. It's also harder to reach these areas with a toothbrush and floss.
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.
These holes can take over your mouth due to a variety of factors, including frequent snacking, excess bacteria, not cleaning your teeth diligently, and drinking sugary drinks daily. Cavities are especially common in children, teenagers, and young adults.
Diabetes occurs when your blood glucose level, also called blood sugar, is too high. High levels of glucose in your blood can also cause glucose to build up in your saliva. This glucose can feed harmful bacteria that combine with food to form a soft, sticky film called plaque, which causes cavities.
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.
Side effects of anorexia nervosa on teeth and gum health
This could lead to issues with chewing and swallowing, as well as tooth decay and fungal infection in extreme cases. Tooth decay: Food restriction is also generally tied to nutrient deficiencies, including a lack of calcium, iron, and B vitamins.
While your enamel can recover from small amounts of damage, cavities do irreversible harm to your smile. Once they form, they will continue growing and doing more damage to your enamel. Eventually, the damage is serious enough to cause infections that lead to pain and sensitivity, and put you at risk for losing teeth!
Problems With Multiple Cavities Can Be Alarming
If you have advanced cavities, you will need more involved care that can affect more of your tooth structure. Fortunately, our procedures can preserve the appearance of teeth even when more involved care is necessary.
The reasons can be many, like the spaces between teeth that easily trap food, consuming too much cavity-causing foods and beverages, avoiding regular professional-level cleanings and checkups, etc.
Ancient people also ate a lot of fibrous foods, which acted as "nature's toothbrush" by flushing away food and bacteria. No food and bacteria lingering in the mouth meant no plaque on their teeth.
Among adolescents aged 12 to 19, more than half (57%) have had a cavity in their permanent teeth. 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.
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."
Pretty much everyone gets a cavity or two in their lifetime, even with good dental hygiene. The average American adult has three fillings. But if you tend to get a lot of cavities, you may be wondering why. Are you more cavity-prone than other people?
Can tooth decay be reversed? Yes, if it is caught early. Tooth decay is only reversible in the beginning stages when it has only affected the enamel or the hard outer protective coating of the tooth. Once tooth decay has progressed through the enamel into the softer, inner part of the tooth, it is irreversible.
Cavities are small holes in the teeth. As a result, there is no natural way to remove them at home. Only a dentist can fix a cavity by filling it in. That said, home care can prevent cavities.
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. Brushing your teeth for less than two minutes each time can also lead to cavities.
If you're eating a lot of sugar, you're more likely to get cavities. Too many chips and crackers don't help either. The starches in them break down into sugars as they're chewed in your mouth. Plus, the particles easily get stuck in the small spaces in your mouth.
Dentists also spend much of their time caring for patients who are often scared, anxious, or dealing with acute pain due to their teeth. It's no wonder that dentists get dental cavities at a higher rate than most people! While it's not something that happens very frequently, it does happen from time to time.
Pretty much everyone gets a cavity or two in their lifetime, even with good dental hygiene. The average American adult has three fillings. But if you tend to get a lot of cavities, you may be wondering why. Are you more cavity-prone than other people?