Poorva Chavan
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Written By: Poorva Chavan | Published : December 26, 2014 6:22 PM IST
The answer to this is both, yes and no. Eating sweets or food high in sugar is not the only reason for dental cavities. Cavities in teeth are common due to the bacteria that thrive in your mouth; while not all bacteria are bad, some of it causes tooth decay.
Reasons for dental cavities
Plaque formation: The many forms of bacteria that thrive in your mouth get a boost to proliferate when you eat or drink sugary foods and don't clean your teeth properly. They also form a thin sticky layer called plaque that covers your teeth. If this layer is not cleaned daily, it accumulates over time and becomes hard. This hard layer then becomes a hiding place for many bacteria which then cause cavities. Here are 10 signs of dental cavities you didn't know about.
Improper and irregular brushing or flossing: The food that you eat tends to stick in between your teeth and if not brushed or flossed out properly, provides a good environment for the bacteria to live and proliferate. Same is the case with sugary or sweet foods. The bacteria grow happily on the sugars that cover your teeth and produce sugar acids in the mouth. These sugar acids start reacting with the hard enamel and makes tiny holes in your teeth. These tiny openings are gateways for the bacteria and sugar acids to reach the next layer of your teeth called dentin, which is softer than the enamel and less resistant to sugar acids.
If the cavity is not filled then and there, it becomes big and then the bacteria start infecting the most inner layer of your teeth which consist of nerve cells and blood vessels. When these cells get infected, they cause unbearable pain and this is usually when you realise that you have a dental cavity. There are many common mistakes that you make while taking care of your oral hygiene, like brushing your teeth too many times. Here are the most common oral health mistakes you might be making.
Prevent dental cavities
Now you know that only eating sweets or consuming sugary drinks doesn t cause cavities. While limiting their consumption is beneficial for your overall health, limiting them only to prevent dental cavities would be uncalled for.
Also, there are many other ways to prevent dental cavities like drinking water or rinsing your mouth thoroughly after eating.
Other than brushing and flossing there are certain foods which prevent cavity formation like apples or pears. Apples and pears are firm, crunchy and also have a high water content which dilutes the sugar acids in the mouth reversing their effect. There are many other foods which are beneficial for maintaining healthy teeth.
Image source: Getty Images
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