Cavities-find Out How Susceptible You Are To Them

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The term cavities is synonymous with the expression tooth decay. Your susceptibility to decay is often affected by your daily habits, what you consume, your dental hygiene habits, whether you ingest fluoridated water, and if you use fluoridated products such as toothpastes or rinses. There is also a genetic factor which determines how easy your teeth decay. If your parents have a low decay rate most likely your teeth will exhibit similar characteristics.

Children tend to be more prone to cavities compared to adults. Cavities can be divided into three different types:

1) Coronal Cavities-This type is most common and begins on the chewing surfaces of the teeth or between the teeth where food isn't completely removed.

2) Recurring Cavities-This is where you develop decay around existing fillings and crowns in your mouth. One of the leading causes of recurrent decay is the inability to consistently remove plaque from these tooth surfaces.

3) Root Decay-As we age, it's common for our gums to recede over time exposing more root surfaces. Since are roots aren't protected by a durable enamel layer, they decay easily.

Certain conditions such as dry mouth can increase your susceptibility to decay. Dry mouth can be caused from several conditions including health issues, medications, radiation treatment, and chemotherapy. Its duration will be dependent on the specific cause.

Cavities should not be taken lightly. If left untreated, it can completely destroy your tooth and infect the entire nerve chamber causing a painful access to develop. Once this happens, your only option will be to perform a root canal, surgery, or extract the tooth.

Cavities can be asymptomatic during the early stages depending on which surface of the tooth is affected. Only a trained dentist can properly diagnose your cavities. Cavities can develop below your tooth surface, in the crevices and between your teeth. Many times large cavities can develop undetected below the surface. The ingestion of carbohydrates (sugars and starches) provides nourishment for the bacteria in plaque to produce acids that breakdown your tooth. Over time, your tooth begins to break down below the enamel surface-all the while appearing normal on the outside. Once the enamel is severely undermined, it collapses forming a cavity.

Common surfaces to develop cavities include pits, on the biting surfaces of the back teeth, between teeth, and by the gum line.

To reduce your rate of decay, brush two times per day and floss each day to eliminate plaque between the teeth. Maintain regular checkups at your dentist and eat a well balanced diet limiting foods with lots of starch or sugar. Fluoridated water and toothpastes also help protect your teeth and make them more resistant to decay.



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Find out the condition of your dental health by seeing an orange dentist or orange ca dentist today for an evaluation!



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