Causes Of Cavities

When you go to the dentist, the last thing that you want to hear is that new cavities have formed since your last visit.  Dealing with cavities can be painful, time consuming and costly.  By learning more about the causes of cavities, you can learn how to proactively work to prevent future occurrences.  Not all causes of cavities can be avoided, but when you know what you can prevent, you can help to better your overall dental health.

At a basic level, having a cavity means having a hole or a weak spot inside of your tooth.  Cavities can occur on the outside, or visible side of your tooth.  In addition, some cavities can occur on the inside of your mouth, making them harder to find and reach in order to fix.  They can also occur internally and only be diagnosed when dental x-rays are taken.

The root cause of cavities is a thin white film that can settle over the exterior of teeth and is called plaque.  Plaque forms when bacteria, sugars and proteins combine to cover your teeth and are not removed by brushing or flossing.  This causes cavities to form on the front and back side of your teeth.  Preventing plaque can be tricky, because it cannot generally be seen on its own, as its colors mimics the color of your teeth.  However, good dental practices can help to remove plaque before it can cause cavities.

By brushing and flossing after each and every meal, plaque can be eliminated before it can build up.  Many people brush only the side of their teeth that they can see and skip flossing altogether.  This can lead to a heightened occurrence of cavities.  Instead, invest in a toothbrush that can reach all surfaces of your teeth so that you can ensure that you are fighting plaque wherever it may form.  Always remember to floss, as well.  If you are not able to floss after every meal, remember to floss at least once a day.

For cavities that form internally, they can be caused by hereditary issues, or by lack of fluoride treatments or fluoridated water during the formation of your adult teeth.  If you grew up in an area that relied on well water, you may not have had enough exposure to fluoride during the formation of your teeth and so can experience a greater number of cavities as an adult.