Here at Smile Reef we frequently take care of the dental needs for siblings. It is not uncommon for one sibling to have more cavities than the other children on a routine basis. We will have parents ask us frequently why some of their children get more cavities than their other children. Smile Reef wants to explore some of the reasons for this today. We hope that you find the information below useful.
What Causes Tooth Decay?
Many people assume that you get more cavities if you are not brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily. Brushing and flossing definitely will help reduce the number of cavities that you get but they will not eliminate them all together. We have many patients that brush and floss just like they should every day and they will still get cavities. Some people are just more susceptible to cavities for a variety of reasons.
Sugary Foods & Drinks Cause Tooth Decay – The largest culprit for cavities is your diet. What you are putting into your body definitely impacts your oral health. When you eat or drink sugary foods or drinks the sugar sits in your mouth on your teeth and along your gum line. The sugar draws bacteria to it. Bacteria can erode your tooth enamel. Your teeth need strong enamel because that is what helps protect your teeth from decay. If your teeth get decayed you will get cavities. Simply cutting down on sodas, juices, sweets, and carbohydrates can help you have less cavities. We recommend that you replace those foods with delicious fruits and vegetables. Instead of drinking soda water is a significantly better choice for your oral hygiene. Many people choose to brush their teeth after eating lots of sugary foods.
Bacteria Causes Dental Caries – Cavities are formed when bacteria eats away at your teeth. The bacteria quantity in each person is unique. Some people have more bacteria in their mouth than others. The more bacteria you have in your mouth the more likely you are to develop cavities. Regular brushing and flossing will help combat aggressive bacteria in your mouth.
Dry Mouth Can Cause Cavities – Another cause of cavities is not having enough saliva in your mouth or having frequent dry mouth. Saliva serves many purposes in our bodies. Saliva helps you digest food and keep your mouth moist. The properties of saliva counteract the bacteria that cause cavities in your mouth. If you have frequent dry mouth try rinsing with mouth wash every day to enhance the enamel on your teeth. You will also want to drink plenty of water every day. If you still have dry mouth on a regular basis contact your doctor.
Cavity Prone Teeth Shapes – Sometimes your tooth shape makes you more susceptible to cavities than other people. If you naturally have more spaces in between your teeth food particles, sugars, and bacteria can easily catch in the spaces between your teeth and create a cavity. Some people have deep grooves on their teeth. These deep grooves also make you more susceptible to cavities. You will want to consider brushing teeth more frequently if you have this problem.
Pediatric Dentistry
Smile Reef hopes this helped you understand why some of your kids get cavities more frequently than others. You can help them by encouraging them to eat healthy foods, drink plenty of water, floss daily, and brush twice a day. Even if they do all of this they may still get cavities but at that point you can rest assured that you are doing everything you can do. Contact Smile Reef to schedule an appointment today!
