Facts About Cavities

Cavities are the holes that form in teeth as a result of a bacterial infection on your teeth called dental caries. This infection takes place when the normal healthy bacteria in the mouth are replaced by acid-producing bacteria. This shift in bacteria is primarily caused by two things:

1. Prolonged acidic (low pH) oral environment: contributing factors include a lack of saliva, and/or a sugary/acidic diet that favors acid-producing bacteria.
2. Transmission: this infection is contagious! You can be infected by someone through exchange of saliva.

EXPERT ADVICE

• Visit a dentist who is performing "caries risk assessment," where they evaluate what factors are contributing to you getting cavities, and offer treatment beyond drilling and filling.

• Limit not only sugary/carbohydrate containing items in your diet, but also even non-sugar containing acidic beverages (i.e. diet soda, coffee, tea, sparkling water, alcohol)

• Consider the acidity (pH) of the dental products you are using. Do they neutralize your mouth? Know your pH. Don't just brush and floss. . . neutralize!

• Understand that fluoride can help treat the symptoms (cavities), but fluoride's effectiveness at stopping the bacterial infection has limits.

• Xylitol is a very effective agent for limiting the acids produced by bacteria and comes in a variety of gums, mints, rinses, toothpastes, etc.

• Xylitol has been shown to make fluoride more effective.

It breaks down like this. . .
Prolonged low pH in the mouth -
overgrowth of cavity-causing bacteria -
death of healthy bacteria -
caries infection -

CAVITIES

5.5 is the magic number! Below that, your teeth are at risk!click on picture to enlarge

DRINKS THAT EAT TEETH:

http://carifree.com/patients/cavities_a_to_z/documents/DrinksThatEatTeeth_000.pdf

For more information on products to help change your pH, call us at VanLeeuwen Dental or visit: http://carifree.com/patients/products/index.html