“But I brush twice a day. How did I still get a cavity?”
This is something I hear from patients almost every day in clinic.
And honestly, it is a very fair question.
We often think that if we brush twice a day, cavities should not happen. But there is a little more to it.
Our mouth has bacteria that feed on sugars and carbohydrates we eat.
These bacteria produce acids that attack the enamel of our teeth.
Normally, saliva helps protect enamel from erosion by neutralizing acid and helping replace minerals from the tooth surface.
But if we constantly snack, sip sugary drinks, leave plaque between teeth or brush inappropriately, then those acid attacks can happen again and again.
Over time, the tooth may lose minerals, which leads to cavity formation.
So brushing twice a day is definitely important - but it is not the whole picture.
Our eating habits, how often we snack, interdental cleaning, proper brushing technique, flossing and even saliva contribute to keeping our teeth healthy.
Good brushing is a great start, but healthy teeth need more than just brushing.
What’s your dental habit you never skip?
MBH/PS