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Dental hygiene tips for healthy teeth & gums

Why Am I Getting Cavities Even Though I Brush Twice A Day?

Dental caries, more often known as cavities, can afflict anyone of any age and can even be prevented by regular brushing and flossing. Even while brushing your teeth twice a day is a great way to keep cavities at bay, there are other things you can do to protect your teeth from decay. If you’re still developing cavities twice daily despite brushing thoroughly, this article will help you figure out why that’s happening and provide you with some tips for preventing them.

Reasons for Dental Cavities

Even if you wash your teeth twice daily, the plaque and food particles may still be left behind if your brushing technique is not correct. Proper brushing technique effectively cleans your teeth and keeps oral health issues away. Brushing too rapidly, using too much pressure, or skipping over those regions that are out of reach are all classic blunders.

A soft-bristled toothbrush held at a 45-degree angle on the teeth and gums is the most effective way to clean your teeth and gums. Make sure you get the front, back, and chewing surfaces of your teeth by using gentle circular motions. Spend at least two minutes scrubbing thoroughly to eliminate plaque.

  • Brushing is crucial, but it can’t clean in between your teeth or along your gum line. Cavities can grow in the spaces between your teeth and gums if you don’t floss and clean them regularly. At least once a day, you should use dental floss or an interdental brush to clean between your teeth and remove food particles and plaque your toothbrush missed.
  • Daily flossing is a must to keep your teeth and gums healthy. To achieve a thorough clean between your teeth, use an interdental cleaning instrument like a water flosser or an interdental brush.
  • Cavities can develop even if you wash your teeth twice daily and avoid eating or drinking anything extremely sweet or acidic. Tooth enamel is eroded by acids produced by oral bacteria as they digest glucose. Consuming sugary drinks, snacks, and candies regularly might set the stage for tooth decay.
  • Reduce your consumption of sugary and acidic foods and drinks to lower your risk. Choose the healthier options and flush any lingering sweets or acids away with plenty of water. In addition, it’s best to limit the amount of time your teeth spend exposed to dangerous substances by avoiding snacks between meals.
  • Lack of saliva, which is essential for good oral hygiene. It removes plaque and food debris, reduces acidity, and fortifies tooth enamel with minerals. The preventive properties of saliva are diminished in people with dry mouth (xerostomia), making tooth decay more likely.

Dental Ways of Protection Against Cavities

  • Medications, health problems, and even the way of living can all contribute to dry mouth. Seek advice from your dentist or doctor if your dry mouth problem persists. They may advise you to drink more water, use saliva replacements, or discuss possible prescription changes to alleviate dry mouth.
  • When the protective coating of enamel on your teeth wears away, exposing the dentin below, you may experience heightened sensitivity. Too much brushing with a hard-bristled toothbrush, acid reflux, vomiting frequently, or eating acidic meals can all wear away at your teeth’s enamel.
  • When enamel is damaged, teeth are more likely to develop caries. The exposed dentin is more delicate and susceptible to bacterial infection. Tooth sensitivity to temperature extremes (hot, cold, sweet) can be another unpleasant side effect of enamel loss.
  • Get checked out by the dentist if you see any signs of enamel erosion. They can examine your teeth, give you advice on how to better care for them, and suggest solutions like fluoride treatments and dental bonding to safeguard vulnerable areas.
  • Genetic factors can also affect individual susceptibility, making some people more predisposed to developing cavities than others. Variations in tooth enamel thickness, saliva makeup, or tooth strength naturally increase the risk for some people. Cavities may form more quickly, even if you practice good oral hygiene in these situations.
  • Consistent oral hygiene practices and regular visits to the dentist for expert cleanings and checkups are essential if you have a family history of cavities. The effects of hereditary factors on your dental health can be mitigated with the help of an evaluation and recommendations from your dentist.

Conclusion:

Cavities can still arise for several reasons, even if you wash your teeth twice daily. Cavities can arise for several reasons, including improper brushing technique, lack of flossing and interdental cleaning, overindulgence in sweet and acidic foods, dry mouth, enamel erosion, and hereditary predisposition.

Maintaining a comprehensive oral hygiene program with correct brushing methods, regular flossing, and interdental cleaning might reduce the likelihood of developing cavities. Maintaining optimum oral health also requires following a balanced diet, dealing with dry mouth, and visiting the dentist regularly.

See a dentist if you still have cavities after taking preventative measures. They’ll take the time to learn about you and your condition so that they can tailor a treatment plan to meet your unique requirements. Maintaining a beautiful smile requires consistent dental care and honest discussion with your dentist.