Tooth cavities may have a number of causes, the most common cause is caries. Caries is the damage to teeth by oral bacterial deposits that soften the hard surface of the tooth causing them to have holes. Caries is caused and influenced by a number of factors.
Bacteria.
There are specific bacteria that can cause caries. These cariogenic bacteria can exist in the mouth without causing cavities or caries.
Sugars
The cariogenic bacteria on the teeth surfaces eats the sugars that we consume and produces acids as a byproduct. The acid is what digests the tooth surface, causing cavities.
The food you consume affects the chances of your teeth developing caries. High sugar sticky foods are more likely to cause caries. Brushing your teeth twice daily, but not immediately after meals, will reduce the sugars stuck on your teeth. Drinking water after meals helps wash always some sugars and bacteria until you can brush your teeth before.
Time
The amount of time that a tooth is in contact with sugars is a major factor in the formation of cavities. The longer the tooth is in contact with both the sugar and bacteria, the more likely it is for cavities to form.
Brushing your teeth twice a day, does not only reduces the amount of bacteria on the teeth surfaces; it also reduces the amount of sugars available on the teeth for the bacteria to metabolise.
If you do not brush your teeth twice a day, you allow foods and sugars to be available on the teeth surface for the bacteria to consume.
Tooth Structure
Teeth may naturally be formed with spaces and holes called pits and fissures. These natural pits and fissures can trap pieces of foods and bacteria, and it is difficult for your toothbrush to reach these pits. This allows the bacteria to have enough time to eat the sugars and produce the acids that damage the tooth structure by forming cavities.
Since your teeth are formed with these tiny holes, it is important to visit us as early as when the first teeth appear in the mouth and then visit us frequently so that we can monitor the teeth and close the pits and fissures if they are too deep. Shallow pits and fissures do not always have to be filled because they do not always turn into carious cavities.
We can check your pits and fissures and if they are sticky, we can stop the caries from getting worse.
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