Everyone needs to take care of their teeth as it is an important part of our day-to-day life. When you fail to ensure proper oral care, tooth decay or cavities may occur. The reason cavities and decay occur is that the bacteria in the mouth make acid. The acid eats away at your teeth. But this isn’t only the reason for having tooth decay, other culprits include:Deep Tooth Crevices
You may not be able to avoid deep tooth crevices, so you will either have them or you do not. In case you have deep crevices, a dentist can apply sealants to help fill up those crevices hence protecting your tooth. The problem with crevices is that food debris tends to get trapped in them, making it hard for the toothbrush bristles to remove them. If food particles remain in the mouth for longer periods, you could develop cavities.
Dry Mouth
Saliva flow in the mouth helps inhibit the build-up of plaque. Therefore, if you have dry mouth issues, you are likely to develop dental problems that could contribute to tooth decay. Certain medications, medical conditions like diabetes, or even genetics can lead to dry mouth. Saliva helps prevent the formation of cavities. It aids in protecting you against gum disease. Saliva naturally cleans your teeth by washing away food debris and preventing an extended acid attack on your tooth enamel. Besides, saliva has antimicrobial agents that try to combat bad bacteria that contribute to cavities.
Tooth Grinding
Most people don’t realize they grind their teeth. A lot of grinding happens at night when people are asleep. And stress is considered a culprit for tooth grinding. Over time, grinding teeth can result in tooth decay since the action strips away the enamel, which is the outer layer of the tooth. A dentist may recommend a mouthguard to minimize the heavy, direct contact of the teeth during teeth grinding episodes. Also, minimizing stress can help avoid tooth grinding. To find out more about tooth decay and how to prevent it, contact our prosthodontics team. We offer various treatments for tooth decay.
