“Why do I get cavities even though I brush and floss?”
I am a 24 year old male and I get cavities very often. Why do I get cavities even though I brush and floss?
5 Answers
You may want to look into your diet and frequency of eating habits. Maybe you have “soft” teeth and the proper technique of brushing & flossing.
Brushing and flossing are only part of the equation. It has a lot to do with the oral flora (meaning the bacteria and the pH in your mouth). Every time we eat, the pH drops (becomes acidic) and the bacteria that live in our mouths love that enviornment. If many small meals are consumed daily, the opportunity for the harmful bacteria to multiply increases. AND- even if it is just 3 square meals a day, some people have the mouth environment that the harmful bacteria love. There are other cavity reducing things you can do. I would highly recommend discussing them with your dentist to see what is right for your lifestyle.
Hope this helps,
Jossi Stokes, DDS
Hope this helps,
Jossi Stokes, DDS
You are getting cavities because your mouth is acidic and the enamel is being decalcified, or your mouth is dry and there is not enough saliva buffering ability. Acidity can come from sucking breath mints or candy, snacking on sweets, bread or carbs during the day. Anything that breaks down into sugar will lower the pH of the mouth and keep it low for 20 minutes. To keep your mouth from being attacked all day long, try to eat all of your sweets at once. You may rinse your mouth with water or eat some hard cheese or chew gum to raise the pH closer to neutral more quickly.
Cavities are caused by many factors. Brushing and flossing is a good step towards preventing cavities, but if you brushes and flossing ever night and still getting cavities you will want to look into additional items.
1. Increase your fluoride exposure. Try prescription fluoride toothpaste or fluoride mouth rinse.
2. Look at your diet. Avoid high sugar foods and drinks.
3. Do you have dry mouth?
1. Increase your fluoride exposure. Try prescription fluoride toothpaste or fluoride mouth rinse.
2. Look at your diet. Avoid high sugar foods and drinks.
3. Do you have dry mouth?
Hello,
This is a very good question for you to be asking. It takes 3 things for cavities to develop. 1) a tooth, 2) bacteria, and 3) food for the bacteria to grow (glucose aka sugar). This makes it seem simple, but it does get complex quickly. Everyone's bacteria make up is different. Some people get a lot more of the bacteria that cause cavities; while others get bacteria that actually help to prevent cavities (yes they do exist!). Most people look at their brushing and flossing habits and wonder why it isn't working. Well, we also have to look at what we are feeding the bacteria and when we are feeding them. Bacteria basically eat glucose (the simplest sugar) and ferment lactic acid. Lactic acid is what forms the cavity in your enamel and let the bacteria in. The best way to treat this is to work with a dentist and arm yourself with knowledge in preventative dentistry.
Hope this helps!
Best of luck to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
This is a very good question for you to be asking. It takes 3 things for cavities to develop. 1) a tooth, 2) bacteria, and 3) food for the bacteria to grow (glucose aka sugar). This makes it seem simple, but it does get complex quickly. Everyone's bacteria make up is different. Some people get a lot more of the bacteria that cause cavities; while others get bacteria that actually help to prevent cavities (yes they do exist!). Most people look at their brushing and flossing habits and wonder why it isn't working. Well, we also have to look at what we are feeding the bacteria and when we are feeding them. Bacteria basically eat glucose (the simplest sugar) and ferment lactic acid. Lactic acid is what forms the cavity in your enamel and let the bacteria in. The best way to treat this is to work with a dentist and arm yourself with knowledge in preventative dentistry.
Hope this helps!
Best of luck to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
