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How a Cavity is Formed

So you went to your Minneapolis dentist or local dentist because of increased sensitivity to hot and cold foods and you were shocked to learn that you’ve got a couple of cavities. How is that possible, you wonder? You weren’t feeling any pain and you thought all cavities hurt.

There are many people with cavities who don’t even realize it because the cavities are relatively small and haven’t reached the nerve of the tooth. You probably remember your dentist telling you as a child that cavities are caused by too much sugars and too little brushing.

When you eat sugar or carbohydrates (which break down into sugar) there are bacteria in your mouth that also chow down on that food. The four types of bacteria that can cause cavities are; Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus casei and acidophilus, and Actinomyces naeslundii. These bacteria eats the sugars in your mouth and release Lactic acids.

These acids attack your tooth enamel for about half and hour after you eat and work to wear it away. After repeated acid baths your enamel is worn down to the dentin. The dentin is the part of the that provides structure. Its as hard as bone but it also has nerve endings. Depending on how badly the acid has decayed your teeth you may only feel slight sensitivity to hot and cold foods or may be very aware of tooth pain. Your dentist will ask you how much your tooth hurts to get a handle on the magnitude of the cavity.

Under the dentin is the tooth pulp. This is the heart of the tooth filled with capillaries, connective tissue and cells necessary to the tooth. If you have a cavity that reaches the tooth you may need a more involved procedure called a root canal to get rid of the cavity before a major infection starts,

Cavities can occur on any surface of the tooth, in the cracks of molars and even under the gum lines if you don’t floss properly. Cavities occurring in the cracks or fissures of the molars are becoming more common as a direct result of the popular sugary drinks we consume. Sugar gets into the fissures where the bacteria feeds on it and leaves the acid in the fissures. If you have a penchant for sodas you can also count on adding extra acids to the acid bacteria create because soda is a very acidic drink which can also attack your enamel.

There are some simple steps you can take to prevent cavities from forming. If you brush your teeth at least twice a day, preferably after each meal you prevent bacteria from building up in your mouth. You don’t have to avoid sugary treats just make sure you at least wash them down with a glass of water. Also don’t sip at your sugary drinks. The longer you linger over these sugary drinks the more time your teeth are exposed to acids.

Certainly your Minneapolis dentist will reveal all of this to you at the dentists office and you’ll lean back in the chair understanding and resolving to take preventative measures to keep other cavities from occurring.