Toronto Beaches Dentist

Cavities: Not Just for Kids!
Winter 2009

Your childhood memories of going to the dentist probably center on the hunt for cavities, and then your parents' reaction to the damage. Now that you're an adult, you may feel you're unsusceptible to cavities but you're not.

The road to a cavity (a dental "carie") begins with the reaction between certain bacteria and what we put in our mouths. Many types of bacteria live naturally in our mouths. When combined with food debris and saliva, bacteria accumulate on the surface of teeth to form a sticky film called plaque. Plaque needs to be removed daily, otherwise it combines with the sugars and starches we eat to produce acids that then attack the tooth enamel and begin the road to dental decay.

Therefore, it stands to reason that, in order to prevent caries, we need to reduce the amount of plaque in our mouths. The simplest way to do this is by flossing daily, brushing our teeth at least twice a day, and maintaining a regular schedule of professional dental cleanings. You can also reduce the amount of acid produced in your mouth by paying more attention to your eating schedule. Snacking throughout the day especially with sugary or starchy foods encourages cavities, as it provides a constant supply of food for bacteria to feed on, triggering continuous attacks from acids.

As with most things, it's more comfortable, less invasive and less expensive to catch and fix problems early, which is why dentists always remind patients of the importance of maintaining regular dental checkups. Only a dentist can identify early dental decay; once you feel sensitivity to sweet foods, or to hot and cold temperatures, it usually means the decay has already eaten through the enamel.

Let's discuss and evaluate what factors could contribute to your risk of developing cavities. You may be surprised to discover the factors in your diet that encourage dental decay not only "kid stuff" like candy and other sugary products, but also carbohydrates and non-sugary, acidic beverages such as diet soda.

Even "healthy" snacks of dried fruit can be just as much of a cavity risk as a mouthful of ju-jubes or other chewy candy because of the sticky nature of the snack, which prolongs the exposure to the tooth surface. Likewise, popping breath mints or sipping drinks other than water over a prolonged period throughout the day can be just as damaging to your teeth as sucking on a lollipop or other hard candy, which creates a constant supply of acid in your mouth.

We won't take all the fun out of your day by telling you to avoid every treat, but we do suggest you consider a quickly dissolving candy such as chocolate instead of hard candy to avoid extended exposure to the teeth's surfaces, and try to include treats with your meal rather than as a separate snack. Remember, too, to rinse your mouth or, even better, to brush your teeth after consuming any snacks.

Good oral hygiene, in addition to being aware of what you put in your mouth and when, will give you the best chance of avoiding plaque attacks, thus keeping your teeth free of decay.

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