When it’s time to see the dentist, do you try to cram a year’s worth of hygiene into the last few days? While the last minute brushing may make you feel better, it can’t take the place of good everyday habits. Pay attention to your teeth all year long and you’re much more likely to get a clean bill of dental health on your visit. And consistent oral care does more than just keep your dentist happy, it also helps prevent problems associated with tooth decay, or caries, also known as cavities.

Sugar, Sugar

Your parents warned you that too much sugar causes cavities, and it turns out they were right … sort of. More accurately, the bacteria in your mouth live off the sugars in your food and produce acids that slowly wear down the surfaces of your teeth, making them more prone to caries.

So yes, Mom and Dad, avoiding sugary foods is often helpful in preventing decay, but you can’t completely cut sugar out of your diet. That’s why it’s also important to decrease the amount of time that sugar sits on your teeth by brushing regularly. By giving those acids less time to weaken your teeth, you can ensure that you spend less time in the dental chair.

Cavity Search

At your regular appointment, your dentist or hygienist will examine your teeth for caries using a pick and mirror and/or dental X-ray. If caries are detected, they’ll recommend the appropriate treatment. However, in between appointments, you can also do your part by being on the lookout for signs of decay. Some of the common symptoms include:

- Chalky, white spot anywhere on your tooth
- Increased sensitivity to heat and cold
- Visible holes or indentions in teeth
- Toothache or pain when biting
- Discoloration or soft spots on tooth surface

Caring for Caries/Cavities

In its early stages, caries is sometimes reversible — fluoride treatments may actually help rebuild the tooth enamel. However, in most cases, your dentist will need to remove the decayed material and replace it with a filling. Luckily, thanks to modern advances in dentistry, most dentists now use plastic fillings that look and feel like natural teeth.

If the decay is extensive, or left untreated for long periods, it may require additional treatments as well. Crowns, root canals and in some cases extraction can stop caries in its tracks and spare you the discomfort of more serious dental problems down the road.

Remember, prevention is the most effective method for dealing with caries, so make sure to brush all year long and see your dentist regularly. If you think you may have early signs of caries, make an appointment right away. The sooner any possible problems are treated, the more easily your dental team can get your teeth back on track.

Cavities

The South Beach Diet™ and Enter the Zone warn that “bad” carbs affect your waistline. That might be debatable, but one thing’s for sure: “Bad” carbs are bad for your teeth. So bad, in fact, that they cause cavities.

Dental cavities, also known as tooth decay and dental caries, are a disease of the teeth that results in the destruction of tooth enamel. Cavities develop when foods containing “bad” carbohydrates — such as soda, cake and candy — are left on the teeth. Dental problems related to cavities result in more school absences than any other childhood disease.

Symptoms of Cavities

Chances are, if you have cavities, you’ll know soon enough. For example, years of gulping down an ice-cold soda every time you hear Def Leppard sing “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” might eventually cause a toothache. That toothache is actually a common symptom of a cavity. Another telltale sign is bad breath. An easy way to spot a cavity is to simply look at your teeth — if you see holes or pits, they are probably cavities. Some cavities, however, can only be detected by using X-rays or other sophisticated dental equipment.

Treating Cavities

Once you get a cavity, wishing it away won’t do any good. Neither will chewing on the other side of your mouth. The only way to treat a cavity is to visit the dentist. Dentists usually treat cavities by removing the decayed part of the tooth and replacing it with a dental filling.

Fillings can be made of:

- Amalgam — Durable, easy to use, highly resistant to wear and economical. Amalgam is typically silver or black in color and contains mercury.

- Composite — A tooth-colored mixture of glass and quartz in a resin medium. Composite fillings are less noticeable than amalgam but not as durable.

- Glass Ionomers — A translucent, tooth-colored mixture of acrylic acids and fine glass powders.

- Porcelain — A ceramic material that mimics a tooth’s natural color. Porcelain is very durable and virtually invisible to the naked eye.

How to Prevent Cavities

It might be tempting to follow Ernestine Ulmer’s advice, “Life is uncertain — eat dessert first,” but if you want to prevent cavities, skipping dessert is probably the better way to go. The fact is one of the simplest ways to preserve your teeth is to eat well-balanced, nutritious meals and to limit snacking.

Combining healthy eating habits with these steps can help reduce the risk even more:

- Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
- Floss daily.
- Use supplemental fluoride (if approved by your dentist).
- Ask your dentist about getting dental sealants.

Remember, cavities are an equal opportunity disease and anyone can suffer from them. Studies show that cavities are particularly common in children and young adults, and that rates have been fuelled by an increase in sugars in the diet, and poor dental hygiene. But your teeth have a good chance at remaining healthy and decay-free if you practice good dental hygiene and visit your dentist on a regular basis.