Dental Talk – What Teeth Are More Likely To Get Cavities?
5 Most Common Places Where Cavities are More Likely to Develop
When it comes to developing cavities, there are five places that are more common for tooth decay than others. Our dentist recommends our patients always brushing your teeth for at least three minutes, twice a day, and flossing once a day.
1. In the Grooves of Your Molars
Your back teeth are more susceptible to developing cavities and tooth decay than any other place in your mouth. This is because the chewing surfaces are deeply grooved, which is essential for properly chewing food, but you may have trouble reaching your back teeth and getting the toothbrush bristles in the grooves in order to clean out all the food particles.
2. Along the Sides of Your Teeth
Since the sides of your teeth touch and toothbrushes do not reach between your teeth, children and adults tend to develop cavities and tooth decay along the sides of their teeth, especially if they do not floss once every 24 hours.
3. Just Above or Below the Gum Line
Food particles, plaque, and tartar tend to collect along the gum line in your mouth. If it is not removed regularly via regular brushing, you could find yourself with a cavity and tooth decay at or just below your gum line. To avoid this scenario, always brush along your gum line along the fronts and backs of your teeth. This typically requires angling the toothbrush at 45-degrees toward your gums.
4. On the Roots
If you have deep pockets in your mouth between your teeth, you are more susceptible to develop cavities in the roots. Unfortunately, deep pockets usually mean that you have some degree of periodontal disease. The only way to clean deep pockets and manage your periodontal disease is to schedule regular dental visits, usually every three to four months in order to manage the condition and reduce your risk of developing future tooth root cavities.
5. Around Dental Work
If you have previous cavities, root canals, bridges, or any other type of dental work in your mouth, the areas of the natural tooth around the dental work are more susceptible to develop cavities. This is because cavities and the presence of dental work often creates an uneven surface where food particles, plaque, and bacteria can collect. In order to reduce your risk of developing cavities, it’s important to brush thoroughly around any existing dental work in your mouth.
Reducing Your Risk of Cavities with Our Melbourne, FL Dentist
Reducing your risk of cavities and tooth decay starts with proper at-home oral hygiene. This includes brushing, flossing and using an ADA approved mouthwash on a daily basis. If you have braces, other orthodontic appliances, or dental work, you may want to increase your brushing routine to include after meals and snacks. However, it’s important to always wait at least 30 minutes after your last bite before brushing your teeth. This is because eating and drinking can cause bacteria and acid explosions in your mouth. The last thing you want to do is drive acid and bacteria into your enamel. After about 30 minutes, the pH levels in the mouth return to normal.
In addition to good at-home oral hygiene, you want to schedule dental checkups and have teeth cleanings twice a year. This helps get rid of plaque and tartar in the crevices of your teeth and below the gum line. These checkups are also great for catching the beginning stages of gum disease for healthy oral care. Our Melbourne, FL dentist also offers dental sealants. While dental sealants are typically recommended for children who are still learning how to properly care for their teeth, they can be beneficial for adults who do not have any cavities or dental work in their back teeth. Sealants help prevent cavities in the molars by preventing food particles from coming into contact and getting trapped in the deep grooves.
To schedule your next dental checkup and teeth cleaning with our dentist at Artistic Touch Dentistry in Melbourne, FL, call us at 321-724-1400.