Dental Caries Risk Factors: Could You Be More Prone to Tooth Decay?

Do you brush your teeth daily, floss regularly and avoid sugary foods and beverages and still suffer from dental carries? If this is the case, then you could be prone to cavities. Some people hardly brush their teeth and snack on every sugary treat, but never suffer from dental caries. Dental caries is a tooth disease that causes cavities, commonly known as tooth decay. The disease can cause excruciating pain and result in a dental emergency if it is not addressed in time.

For dental caries to progress, certain factors have to be present, and some people are more prone to these factors than others. Understanding them can help you minimize the risk of dental caries. Here are some of these common risk factors of tooth decay.

Poor dental hygiene

If you are more prone to cavities, practicing good oral hygiene can help minimize the chances of suffering from tooth decay. Brushing your teeth after every meal and flossing eliminates food particles that get stuck in between the teeth. The fluoride in toothpaste also helps prevent the development of plaque, which creates a suitable environment for caries causing bacteria to thrive in the mouth. Regular visits to your dentist for teeth cleaning can remove tartar, the black substance that occurs on the surface of teeth as a result of plaque buildup. 

Dry mouth

Many of the foods that people eat today contain acids. Acids can corrode the tooth enamel and increase your susceptibility to tooth decay. The saliva in the mouth neutralizes these acids and restores the normal pH of the mouth. If you have a dry mouth, you may have inadequate saliva to neutralize these acids, and this could lead to corrosion of the enamel. If you take any form of medication that causes dryness in the mouth as a side effect, you should drink lots of water. You can also chew sugar-free gum regularly to stimulate the salivary glands.

Genetic factors

Genetics can affect the depth of the fissures on the surface of your teeth, especially the molars and premolars, and increase your chances of suffering from dental caries. Some teeth are naturally shaped in such a way that the fissures are quite deep. These fissures have the ability to trap small food particles and bacteria, and if you don't brush your teeth correctly, you may not dislodge them. As a result, the bacteria will start eating into the enamel and eventually cause cavities. Investing in a good toothbrush and practicing proper brushing techniques can minimize the risk of tooth decay as a result of deep fissures.

Dental caries can cause you to lose your natural teeth or have to undergo orthodontic procedures to restore the teeth and alleviate pain. Follow this advice if you are more prone to dental caries as a result of any of the above factors to minimize your chances of suffering from tooth decay.