What Is A Cavity Exactly?

Cavities, also known as caries, are holes in your teeth slowly created when foods with simple sugar attaches to a type of bacteria, called plaque, on your teeth. When plaque and these simple sugars, like suckers, soda, starches, and citrus combine without proper brushing and flossing or using mouthwash, if unable to brush, the cavities are able to start forming.
Cavities can be tiny, only a small hole on the surface or can be big going though the top layer, the enamel, and the second layer, dentin, of a tooth. If the cavity reaches the nerves, pulp, of the tooth it can cause extreme sensitivity and pain.

There are many types of bacteria and plaque within your mouth:

• Periodontal plaque is a bacterium that causes gum disease.
• Acid plaque is a bacterium in your mouth that causes tooth decay.

Within Acid plaque there are:

• Lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria that causes cavities on the top or chewing surface of your teeth.
• Streptococcus bacteria that causes cavities on the smooth parts of your teeth.
• Odontomyces viscoses bacteria is on the back of the tongue and causes cavities in the root, or cementum, of your teeth which can become exposed as your grow older or if you also have gum disease caused by Periodontal plaque mentioned earlier.

Cavities are caused by your oral hygiene practices and the food you eat but your age and genes can make you more susceptible to cavities. Bad quality or weak teeth can be inherited from your parents, which makes it easier to get cavities. Brushing baby's gums before they have teeth can help aid in the baby teeth being stronger and able to resist the bacteria. Also, as you get older your body produces less saliva which helps wash away the bad bacteria and food particles that create plaque that causes cavities.

• Cavities are more likely to happen between teeth; that is why flossing is encouraged.
• Chipped, cracked, and damaged teeth can allow bacteria to be missed by basic brushing so mouth was should be used regularly also.
• Clenching and grinding your teeth can speed up tooth decay because you can crack, fracture, and even break teeth exposing the dentin to the bacteria that causes plaque and and tooth decay.

To fight against cavities in your mouth, it’s best to have regular teeth cleaning in Oklahoma City. Check with the Dr. Kirby at Classen Family Dentistry for more information regarding cavity prevention for the entire family: classenfamilydentistry.com