Cavities

Cavities :
A cavity is a decay in your tooth. A cavity develops when a tooth decays and develops a hole that grows bigger and deeper over time. Everyone is susceptible to tooth decay. If a cavity is large and deep, food particles can become trapped in it. Cavities are also called dental caries.Cavity. That's the word no one wants to hear at the dentist's office. A cavity (say: ka-vuh-tee) develops when a tooth decays (say: dih-kaze), or breaks down. A cavity is a hole that can grow bigger and deeper over time. if you have a cavity, it's important to get it repaired.The bacteria in your mouth make acids and when plaque clings to your teeth, the acids can eat away at the outermost layer of the tooth, called the enamel (say: ih-na-mul). (Refer 1)
Symptoms of Cavities
The most common symptom is a toothache.Tooth decay is heavily influenced by what we eat, how well we take care of our teeth, and the presence of fluoride in our water and toothpaste. Heredity also plays a role in tooth decay.
Types of Cavities
There are three main types of cavities: Coronal, root, and recurrent decay.
1.Coronal cavities are the most common type of cavity. They occur in children and adults. Coronal cavities usually are located on chewing surfaces or between the teeth.
2.Root cavities occur on the root of the tooth when part of the tooth's root is exposed.
3.Recurrent decay is decay that forms around existing fillings and crowns.
Risk of developing a Cavity
People who have Dry Mouth are more likely to get cavities. Dry mouth may be caused by illness, medications, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Depending on its cause, Dry Mouth may be either temporary or permanent.
Treatment options for Cavities
Cavities can be treated by a dentist. Cavities are very serious. If left untreated, a cavity can destroy your tooth and cause infection in the tooth. ( Refer 2)


Main Causes for Cavities:
Sugar Is the Prime Cause of Cavities Myth and fact. In reality, its the acid produced by bacteria in your mouth that causes cavities, says Harms. What the bacteria do, however, is eat carbohydrates -- and sugar is one of them. Rice, potatoes, bread, and fruits and vegetables are also carbohydrates. When you eat anything with carbs, the bacteria become active and produce acid that then eats into your tooth. Once they do that, the bacteria now have a nice little hole to live in where your toothbrush and floss cant reach, Harms says. The bacteria continue to metabolize carbs, produce acids, and your cavity just keeps getting bigger. Also, its not the amount of carbohydrates you eat that causes tooth decay, but the length of time your teeth are exposed. If you eat a lot of carbs for lunch, thats one big exposure. But if you spend the day sipping sugary drinks, thats continuous exposure -- and much more dangerous for your teeth. We have a saying, Harms tells WebMD. Sip all day and get decay. ( Refer 3)
Do Chewing Gums fight against Cavities:
Some studies show that chewing gum can have an indirect positive effect on your teeth. Gum can stimulate production of saliva and increase salivary flow. Saliva is a natural buffering agent which washes the teeth and neutralizes some of the acid produced by bacteria. It is the acid which erodes enamel and eventually causes cavities. Also, some people do not produce sufficient saliva. One study showed that after chewing gum for 10 minutes each waking hour for two weeks, participants increased their salivary flow to a functional level and increased salivary pH and buffering capacity.
On the other hand, gum typically contains some type of sweetener. Brands of gum containing sugar can be harmful to your teeth if these types of gum are chewed too often or are removed from the mouth too soon. In fact, studies have shown that if a person chews gum containing sugar, it should be chewed for at least 15 to 20 minutes. After this time, the sugar is gone, but the saliva is sufficiently stimulated to rinse away some of the sugar residue. Vogel et al., (1998) found significant increases in pH, free calcium, and phosphate concentrations in plaque and saliva when an alpha-tricalcium-phosphate-containing gum was chewed after a sugary meal. The results of the study suggest that this experimental gum may be more effective than conventional gum in reducing the cavity causing effects of sugar. One artificial sweetener called Xylitol (e.g. Xylifresh gum) is proving to be quite beneficial. This ingredient may directly prevent cavities. One study from Finland shows not only a reduction in decay in children who have chewed gum with this ingredient, but extremely small lesions have actually been reversed. The exact mechanism of action of Xylitol is unknown, but it appears to inhibit bacterial growth, including growth of Streptococcus mutans -- the main bacteria implicated in dental decay. Perhaps it causes Streptococcus mutans to lose a competitive edge in the oral ecosystem.
The proper protocol for cavity protection is to chew two pieces of gum three to five times daily for at least five minutes per chewing session. Any less time will decrease the effectiveness of the Xylitol . Xylitol appears to be the only artificial sweetener which is not fermented by Streptococcus mutans, although the other sweeteners are fermented at a much lower rate than sugar. One eight-week crossover clinical study conducted at the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry found that Breath Assure Dental Gum reduced the accumulation of plaque on the test subjects' teeth by 35 percent. Volunteers chewed the gum three times a day for 20 minutes, while a control group chewed a placebo gum. All test subjects practiced regular brushing and flossing routines during the study. (Refer 4)
New research has revealed that Xylitol -containing chewing gum may provide an additional benefit when fighting cavities.
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that is commonly referred to as birch sugar because it can be produced from birch trees. Some natural sources of Xylitol include plums, strawberries, raspberries, and rowanberries. Xylitol is similar in sweetness to table sugar, and is used as a sugar substitute for dietary and medical purposes.
For most of us, brushing teeth three times a day (after meals and before bedtime) with a fluoridated toothpaste, flossing at least once a day, and getting to the dentist twice a year is enough to prevent those troublesome cavities. There are some people, however, who are "cavity-prone" and may need more aggressive preventative measures. These measures may include the use of a fluoridated mouth rinse after brushing, high strength fluoride gels, and a potent, antiseptic mouth rinse that contains chlorhexidine (CHX -- available by prescription only). Xylitol -containing chewing gum has been shown to prevent the growth of the bacteria Streptococcus Mutans (SM) when used in conjunction with CHX antiseptic mouth rinses. SM is one of the primary bacteria responsible for dental cavities. Research has shown that chewing Xylitol -containing gum after a two-week course of using a CHX mouth rinse substantially reduced the number of SM bacteria for three months. This reduction of SM bacteria will ultimately mean fewer cavities. As an interesting aside, a recent medical study found that Xylitol -containing chewing gum also reduces the growth of Streptococcus pneumoniae, which could lower the incidence of inner ear infections. So the next time your child asks for a piece of candy, reach for a stick of Xylitol -sweetened gum instead -- your child and dentist will thank you for it! (Refer 5)







What every family should know about Xylitol .
Cavities dont just Happen!
Bacteria produce acid from the sugars and starches you eat. This acid eats away at your teeth, causing cavities.
Brushing & Flossing Arent Enough
Brushing and flossing only do so much. They help remove plaque from your teeth but they dont kill cavity-causing bacteria, so you still get cavities.
Xylitol Reduces bacteria
Epic products contain Xylitol a natural sweetener proven to reduce cavity-causing bacteria. Fewer bacteria mean fewer cavities. Studies show that as little as 6 grams of Xylitol a day can reduce cavities by more than 80%.
Use 6 Grams of Xylitol Every Day
To effectively fight acid-producing bacteria, you need 2 grams of Xylitol 3 times daily. Epic Gum makes it easy for you to get your 6 grams.
Youll fell The Difference!
Eliminating the bacteria in your mouth makes your teeth feel different. Use Epic every day and your teeth will feel smooth, glossy and clean like youve visited the dentist.
Want to reduce cavity-causing bacteria simply and quickly?
A recent study suggests you need only 6 grams of Xylitol a day to do just that. With more Xylitol per piece (1.06 grams) our system makes it easy to get your six grams a day.
Now Natural Nutrition Marketing Pvt Ltd is importing and Marketing Xylitol Sweetener & Cavity free Xylitol Chewing Gums in India. For product information visit: www.nnindia.com