The 411 on cavities

Whether you’re a patient at Liberty Dentistry or you visit a dentist somewhere outside of Randolph County, chances are you’ve heard the dental professionals in your life talk to you about cavities. But how much do you know about what a cavity is and how they happen?

Cavities are the holes that form in our teeth due to a combination of sugary and acidic foods, bacteria, and poor dental hygiene. When we consume sugary and highly processed foods and drinks like candy and milkshakes, the bacteria that lives in our mouth feeds on the sugars and produces acid. Eating and drinking acidic items like coffee, soda, and citrus also creates an environment in your mouth that’s perfect for cavities to form.  

When there’s a lot of acidity in your mouth, your tooth enamel can be weakened. Enamel is the hard, protective layer of your teeth the shields the tooth from damage. Small pits and weaknesses aren’t noticeable to the naked eye and are usually painless at first. If left untreated, the cavities keep progressing and holes in the enamel become larger. They can eventually reach the inner layers of our teeth, where we have nerves and blood vessels. When this happens, we start feeling pain and sensitivity because the nerves are being affected. If left unchecked the treatment needed to fix the problem becomes more time consuming and costly.  

This is where our oral hygiene habits come into play. Regular brushing and flossing help remove the harmful bacteria and the leftover sugary substances from our mouths. If we don’t clean our teeth properly, the bacteria continue producing acid, and the weakened enamel keeps breaking down.  Another important factor is visiting your dentist for regular checkups. At your cleaning appointment your dentist can find and treat these tiny cavities before they get larger and develop into a problem that could be very painful. It’s very important to remember that once a cavity has developed it will not resolve by itself.  

Understanding how cavities form helps us make better choices for our oral health. By taking good care of our teeth and being mindful of what we eat, we can prevent cavities from occurring. Eating a healthy diet, not sipping sweet or acidic drinks throughout the day, brushing and flossing daily, as well as following the guidelines for recommended dental visits will help to keep your smile healthy and happy for years to come.