For most people, dental cavities may seem inevitable. Regardless of how often you brush and floss your teeth, cavities can still form in your mouth. If you still get cavities despite your effort of taking care of your teeth, you might be wondering what you have done wrong. A dentist in San Diego, CA, can explain to you the common cause of cavities and what you can do to prevent them.
Some Teeth in Your Mouth are More Susceptible to Decay than Others
In general, tooth decay is common in molars and premolars. These teeth have several areas that allow food particles and debris to be stuck in. These hard-to-clean areas allow for plaque formation and bacterial growth.
Also, molars and premolars are utilized to break down food before it is swallowed. Because of this, food gets trapped in these teeth more often. Such factors allow cavities to easily form in these teeth. Thus, you must pay attention to your molars and premolars when cleaning your teeth.
What You Eat May Be the Culprit
A lot of foods and beverages contain sugars that oral bacteria can feed on. When these bacteria consume these sugars, they release acids that can be damaging your teeth’s enamel. Sugary foods and beverages like sweets, sodas, and candies can damage your teeth. In addition, soda’s carbonation can wear down the enamel of your teeth over time. The sugar itself can speed up the decay process. So, if you cannot resist anything sweet, this may be the reason you still have cavities even if you have been practicing good oral health habits.
It May Have to Do with Your Hygiene and Lifestyle Habits
While you may be brushing and flossing your teeth regularly, you may not be doing it correctly. When you brush your teeth, ensure you cover all teeth surfaces, including the chewing surface, backs and fronts of your teeth, below your gum line, and your tongue. Also, you must complete the brushing process for around two minutes. Then, you must floss your teeth and clean your tongue to eliminate lingering bacteria.
Moreover, your lifestyle habits can affect your dental health. If you smoke or use tobacco regularly, you have an increased risk of cavities, tooth decay, and oral cancer. Also, some eating habits, like frequent snacking, can lead to bacterial growth, which increases the release of acids that can wear down your teeth’s enamel.
Dental cavities and tooth decay can also occur because of other disorders. If you experience dry mouth, acid can excessively build up in your mouth. Also, if you experience acid reflux or vomiting, the stomach acid can wear down your enamel over time.