Cavities are small openings or holes in the hard surface of your teeth that are permanently damaged. Cavities, also known as tooth decay or caries, are caused by a number of reasons, including germs in the mouth, frequent snacking, drinking sugary beverages, and not brushing your teeth thoroughly. Below are cause of tooth cavities or tooth decay.
- The placement of the teeth. Your back teeth are most likely to decay (molars and premolars). These teeth have several grooves, pits, and crannies, as well as numerous roots that can trap food particles. As a result, they’re more difficult to brush than your front teeth, which are smoother and easier to reach.
- Some foods and beverages. Milk, ice cream, honey, sugar, soda, dried fruit, cake, cookies, hard candy and mints, dry cereal, and chips stick to your teeth for longer periods of time and are more likely to promote decay than items that are easily rinsed away by saliva.
- Snacking or drinking on a regular basis. You give oral bacteria more fuel to make acids that attack and wear down your teeth when you snack or drink sugary drinks on a regular basis. Furthermore, drinking soda or other acidic beverages throughout the day helps to generate an acid bath on your teeth.
- Infant feeding before bedtime. When babies are given goodnight bottles containing milk, formula, juice, or other sugary liquids, the beverages stay on their teeth for hours while they sleep, feeding decay-causing germs. Baby bottle teeth decay is a common term for this kind of damage. When toddlers drink from a sippy cup containing these beverages, they can cause similar damage.
- Insufficient brushing. Plaque builds quickly on your teeth if you don’t brush them right after eating or drinking, and the initial stages of decay can occur.
- Inadequate fluoride intake. Fluoride, a naturally occurring mineral, can help prevent cavities and even cure tooth damage in its early stages. Fluoride is added to many public water systems because of its dental advantages. It’s also found in a lot of toothpastes and mouthwashes. However, fluoride is rarely found in bottled water.
- Age (younger or older). Cavities are frequent among young toddlers and teenagers in the United States. Senior citizens are also at a higher risk. Teeth can wear down and gums can recede over time, rendering teeth more susceptible to root decay. Additionally, older persons are more likely to use drugs that restrict saliva flow, which increases the risk of tooth decay.
- You have a dry mouth. A lack of saliva causes dry mouth, which prevents tooth decay by washing away food and plaque from your teeth. Saliva contains substances that help to neutralize the acid produced by bacteria. By lowering saliva production, certain medications, medical conditions, radiation to the head or neck, and chemotherapy drugs can raise your risk of cavities.
- Fillings or dental devices that have become worn out. Fillings in the mouth might deteriorate, break down, or develop rough edges over time. Plaque might form more easily as a result, making it more difficult to remove. Dental appliances might lose their ability to fit properly, allowing decay to start beneath them.
- Heartburn. Stomach acid can flow into your mouth (reflux) as a result of heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), eroding away your teeth’s enamel and causing substantial tooth damage. More of the dentin is exposed, allowing germs to attack it and cause tooth decay. Your dentist may advise you to see a doctor to determine whether your enamel loss is due to stomach reflux.
- Eating disorder. Tooth erosion and cavities are common side effects of anorexia and bulimia. Stomach acid from frequent vomiting (purging) runs over the teeth, causing the enamel to dissolve. Saliva production might also be hampered by eating problems.
