What Your Dentist Wants You to Know About Cavities

While gum disease affects millions of people in this country and problems such as chipped teeth, infected wisdom teeth, and other issues are certainly serious, cavities are probably one of the most important oral health problems facing dental patients. Letting them fester is not an option, as it can lead to even more serious issues. Your dentist will look for cavities each and every time you go in for an appointment, which is one of the reasons why it is so important to get your teeth examined twice a year. Here are some things you may not know about cavities.

What Are They?

Cavities are actually small holes in the enamel of your teeth. They are not there naturally, and are almost always the result of poor oral health. A dentist can diagnose these through a close examination, as well as through listening to their patients' concerns. If you've had any trouble with your teeth (toothache, hot/cold sensitivity), be sure you bring it up at your appointment so that extra attention can be paid to the teeth in question and problems can be resolved quickly.

Causes

Any dentist will tell you that there are a number of factors that go into creating cavities. Food isn't the only cause, although it is a contributing factor. Sweets are a major cause, which is why dental professionals spend a lot of their time warning against them. Of course, poor oral hygiene habits are probably the biggest contributing factor. Follow the ADA recommendations, brush at least twice daily, floss every day, and see a dentist on a regular basis and you will be much less likely to encounter cavities.

Signs

It is not productive to try and find ways to detect your own cavities. This should be left to a dental professional. It isn't as simple as looking for holes on the outside of your teeth, as this is rarely where cavities develop. If you see a visible hole in your tooth, you're looking at a cavity that has progressed far beyond the point where it should have been treated. So don't attempt to diagnose yourself. See your dental professional every six months and let them do their own examinations.

Treatment

Treatment for small cavities usually includes using a filling to plug the hole. This type of treatment has been in practice for a long time and has proven to be a very effective means of saving the tooth and allowing the patient to get on with their lives with minimal discomfort.