What is a Cavity?

A cavity is a small hole that forms on the surface of a tooth because of a bacteria mixture. When we eat sugary food, the bacteria in our mouths produce an acid that eats away at the enamel of our teeth (outer layer). Cavities can happen more often in childhood, but adults get them too!

Fillings:

These cavities form around the filling because fillings are not as smooth as natural teeth and small food bits and bacteria work their way into the filling.  This allows a cavity to form. And when a filling breaks, the section of the tooth that isn’t covered is more likely to get a cavity.

Roots

These cavities form around the root of a tooth. If you like to brush hard or have a bad habit of it, your gum line can recede. Getting older can also cause this gum recession. When your gums no longer cover the roots, the roots of the teeth unprotected and are more likely to get cavities.

Soft Drinks

Did you know that soft drinks or sodas —even those that are sugar-free —have a concentrated acid that eats away at tooth enamel. If you can’t live without them, you can drink them quickly and use a straw to avoid extended contact with your teeth.

A List of How to Prevent Cavities 

• Cut out sugary foods and drinks
• Eat vitamin D
• Chew on sugar-free gum (Healthy alternatives like Xylitol or Stevia)
• Brush with fluoride toothpaste
• Rinse your mouth with mouthwash
• Visit your dentist regularly
• Drink some tap water
• Consider dental sealants

Dental Exam 

Dental exams are extensive and thorough. When you get your dental exam, your dentist will check your fillings and previous dental and health history to see if anything would suggest that you replace any broken or loose fillings. Your dentist will check for any signs of decay that would be seen in brown or black spots on your teeth.

Your dentist may want to use X-rays to look closer at these spots. If a cavity shows up in the x-rays, your dentist may wait and watch it (if it’s small), or suggest filling it immediately. Without cleaning and filling a cavity right away, you can lose your tooth. If this does happen, it will have to be replaced by an artificial tooth for adults which don’t have natural replacements.

Besides a tooth extraction to replace your tooth, your dentist may offer fluoride treatments, fillings, a crown, or a root canal.

Source: https://www.cda-adc.ca/en/oral_health/talk/complications/diseases/cavities.asp

Learn more about how a Dental exam works and can prevent cavities here.

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