Cavities
Written by Dentist Rune Skou, 2008-15-12Last update: 2010-01-01
Cavities are one of the commonest dental problems.
How they work:
Cavities occur when the surface of a tooth is dissolved by a localised acid attack. This comes from bacteria which attach themselves to the teeth, and which when given sugar to metabolise produce the acid needed to create cavities.
The body’s defence mechanisms:
The body’s primary defence mechanisms are mechanical cleaning and salivation.
Saliva kills some bacteria and dilutes sugar – causing the bacteria to produce less harmful acid.
Saliva also contains ccalcium which slows down tooth erosion and remineralises those areas already affected by erosion.
Risk factors:
- Decreased or halted salivation
- Poorly mineralised teeth
- Malocclusion
- Frequent sugar intake
- Poor dental hygiene
Prevention:
The key method for preventing cavities is good dental hygiene. This consists of many things, but most important is correct brushing technique, which involves using a manual or electric toothbrush together with a fluoride toothpaste, then cleaning the spaces between the teeth with dental floss or toothpicks. For children, the amount of toothpaste used should be limited to the amount which would fit on his/her little finger: over-use and swallowing may lead to dental fluorosis.
Prevention can also be helped by watching what you eat and drink: the bacteria which cause cavities survive by consuming different kinds of sugar – the worst of which is the refined sugar found in many foods and drinks.
To get an idea of how dangerous products are for your teeth, read their labels. The higher the amount of sugar included, the worse the item is for your dental health.
Moving to ‘light’ versions of soft drinks helps to prevent cavities, as these versions do not contain sugar. Moving to water or milk is preferable, however, as ‘light’ soft drinks still contribute to erosion due to their acidic natures.
The rate at which you consume sweets and soft drinks is also important to watch, as taking sugar-rich products quickly will expose your teeth to sugar for a shorter period of time and so reduce the chance of cavities forming.
Chewing sugar-free gum can help prevention as well, as these gums contain little to no sugar and stimulate salivation which directly helps to prevent cavities.
What will your dentist/dental hygenist do?
If cavities are discovered during your examination, your dentist will treat them with a fluoride treatment or a filling.
If the affected area is large, a root canal or a crown may be necessary. In very serious cases when the tooth cannot be salvaged, it will have to be extracted.