Everyone who has teeth is at risk of developing cavities, but the risk can be increased by the following factors:
• The location of the teeth. Dental caries most often occurs in the back teeth (premolars and premolars). These teeth have many cavities, pits and fissures in which food particles can accumulate. As a result, they are more difficult to keep clean than the smooth, easily accessible front teeth.
• Certain foods and beverages. Foods that stick to teeth for a long time — such as milk, ice cream, honey, sugar, soda, dried fruits, cakes, biscuits, hard candy, mints, dry cereal and potato chips — are more likely to lead to cavities than foods that saliva can clean easily.
• Frequent snacks or drinks. When you eat snacks or sugary drinks a lot, you give your oral bacteria more energy to produce acids that attack and wear down your teeth. Consuming soft drinks or other acidic drinks throughout the day also helps in the continuous secretion of acid that coats the teeth.
• Feeding infants while sleeping. When babies are given bedtime bottles filled with milk, formula, juice or other sugar-containing liquids, these drinks stay on their teeth for hours while they sleep, making them a source of nourishment for corrosive bacteria. This damage is often called bottle-feeding tooth decay. Similar damage can occur when children run around drinking from a sippy cup filled with these beverages repeatedly.
• Inappropriate brushing of teeth. If you don’t brush your teeth immediately after eating and drinking, plaque builds up quickly and the first stage of decay can begin.
• Not getting enough fluoride. Fluoride, a naturally occurring mineral, helps prevent tooth decay and may also be able to reverse the early stages of tooth damage. Because of its dental benefits, fluoride is added to many public water sources. It is also a common ingredient in toothpaste and mouthwash. But bottled water usually does not contain fluoride.
Younger or older age. In the United States, tooth decay is common in young children and teens. Older adults are also at a higher risk. Over time, teeth may wear down and gums recede, making teeth more susceptible to root decay. Also, the elderly may take a lot of medications that reduce the flow of saliva, which increases the risk of tooth decay.
• Dry mouth. Dry mouth is caused by a lack of saliva, which helps prevent tooth decay by cleaning the teeth of food and plaque. Substances in saliva also help counteract the acids produced by bacteria. Certain medications, certain medical conditions, radiation exposure to the head or neck, or certain chemotherapy drugs can increase the risk of dental cavities by reducing saliva production.
• Wearing of fillings or dental appliances. Over the years, dental fillings can weaken and begin to loosen or develop jagged edges. This allows plaque to build up more easily and be more difficult to remove. Composite dental appliances can become loose or not fit well, allowing decay to begin beneath them.
Heartburn. Heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease can cause stomach acid to flow into the mouth (reflux), erode tooth enamel and cause significant damage to the teeth. This exposes more dentin to bacterial attacks, causing tooth decay. The dentist may recommend that you consult your doctor to find out whether gastric reflux is the cause of the enamel loss.
• Eating disorders. Anorexia and bulimia can lead to significant tooth wear and cavities. Stomach acid from repeated vomiting also coats the teeth and the enamel begins to disintegrate. Eating disorders can also interfere with salivation.
