Myths About Cavities

#cavities

Jul 30 • 2 minute read

When my wife and I were in dental school, we talked a lot about dental caries. Now that we've been working in the field as dentists for some time, we still talk a lot about dental caries. In fact, if you're one of our patients, chances are we've talked about dental caries at one time or another with you.

You might know dental caries by the more popular term: cavities. Cavities aren't the most fun part about our job, but they certainly are a big part of it! And, contrary to what many people out there probably believe, we don't like filling cavities. We would much rather be telling you how great your teeth look than pulling out the drill when you come see us.

For this week's blog post, I'd like to make cavities a little more fun to talk about than they usually are. Here are some things about cavities you may have thought you knew that actually aren't true:

Myth: You'll Know When You Have a Cavity

The Truth: A lot of people think tooth pain alone is the indicator for a cavity. Far too many people skip regular dental checkups and only visit their dentist when something in their mouth hurts. This often leads to expensive dental procedures and lots of time spent in dentist's chair. The truth is, if your tooth hurts it means you have decay deep enough to affect the structures below your enamel. When decay is left untreated for this long, it leads to much more expensive dental work. Do yourself a favor and keep those dentist appointments so we can use all of tools to check you thoroughly for tooth decay.

Myth: Sugar Causes Cavities

The Truth: Okay, this is almost true, but it's technically small colonies of bacteria in your mouth that causes tooth decay, and, with time and neglected oral hygiene, cavities. Not all of the bacteria in your mouth is harmful, but some of it attaches to your enamel and mixes with saliva, sugars, acids, and carbohydrates. Different reactions to these compounds cause tooth decay by creating acid and plaque that break down your tooth enamel.

Myth: Kids Get Cavities More Often Than Adults

The Truth: This used to be true, but thanks to things like dental sealants, fluoridated water, and great dentists working with kids and their parents, the American Dental Association says school-aged children's tooth decay has been cut in half over the last 20 years.

Myth: You Don't Need to Worry About Cavities in Baby Teeth

The Truth: Yes, your children are going to lose their baby teeth, but remember that the baby teeth serve as guides for the adult teeth. It's important to take care of your kid's baby teeth too! In addition to preventing problems later, treating your child's cavities may also be necessary to safeguard them from infection. An untreated, decayed baby tooth can lead to an abscess and/or serious gum disease.

Thanks for Reading!

The best cavity prevention tip you'll ever receive from a dentist is to brush and floss regularly. These two simple hygiene practices will go a long way toward preventing most of the decay and dental complications that you would otherwise endure. Prevention is the key!

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