{"id":1613,"date":"2020-06-12T12:44:13","date_gmt":"2020-06-12T12:44:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.blog.kayawell.com\/?p=1613"},"modified":"2026-01-08T05:58:51","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T05:58:51","slug":"cavity-symptoms-causes-risk-factors-and-prevention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/cavity-symptoms-causes-risk-factors-and-prevention","title":{"rendered":"Cavity- Symptoms, Causes, Risk Factors and Prevention"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Cavities are\npermanently damaged areas that form into tiny gaps or holes in the hard surface\nof your teeth. Cavities, also known as caries or tooth decay, are caused by a\ncombination of factors, including bacteria in your mouth, frequent snacking,\nsipping sugar beverages, and failing to clean your teeth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cavities and tooth decay are among the most common health problems in the world. They are particularly common in children, adolescents, and older adults. However, anyone with teeth can get cavities, including infants. Therefore, many children at a young age get their <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/drkevindds.com\/what-type-dentures-are-natural-looking\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"most natural looking dentures\">most natural looking dentures<\/a><\/strong> to maintain their oral health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If cavities\naren&#8217;t treated they get bigger and affect your teeth&#8217;s deeper layers. They can\nlead to serious toothache, infection, and loss of dentures. Daily dental\nappointments, and good brushing and flossing practices are your best cavity and\ntooth decay defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_73 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\r\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\r\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\r\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\r\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/cavity-symptoms-causes-risk-factors-and-prevention\/#Symptoms\" title=\"Symptoms\">Symptoms<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/cavity-symptoms-causes-risk-factors-and-prevention\/#Causes\" title=\"Causes\">Causes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/cavity-symptoms-causes-risk-factors-and-prevention\/#Risk_Factors\" title=\"Risk Factors\">Risk Factors<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/cavity-symptoms-causes-risk-factors-and-prevention\/#Complications\" title=\"Complications\">Complications<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/cavity-symptoms-causes-risk-factors-and-prevention\/#Prevention\" title=\"Prevention\">Prevention<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Symptoms\"><\/span>Symptoms <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The symptoms\nof a cavity depend on the severity of the decay. They include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tooth sensitivity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tooth pain<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A visible hole in your teeth<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Black or white staining on your teeth<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Read More: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/how-to-take-care-of-your-dental-health\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"How to Take Care of Teeth\">How to Take Care of Teeth<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Causes\"><\/span>Causes <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Our mouths\nare full of bacteria. Some bacteria are helpful. But some can be harmful,\nincluding the ones that play a role in tooth decay. With food these bacteria\ncombine to form a soft, sticky film called a plaque. The bacteria in plaque use\nthe sugar and starch in what you eat and drink to make acids. The acids on your\nenamel start eating away at the minerals.&nbsp;\nOver time, the plaque can harden into tartar. Besides damaging your\nteeth, plaque and tartar can also irritate your gums and cause gum disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You get\nfluoride from toothpaste, water, and other sources. As well as your salvia,\nthis fluoride helps the enamel repair itself by replacing the minerals. Your\nteeth go through the normal cycle of mineral loss and mineral recovery all the\nday. But if you don&#8217;t take care of your teeth and\/or you eat and drink lots of\nsugary or starchy things, your enamel will keep losing minerals. This leads to\ntooth decay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There may be a white spot where minerals have been lost.. This is an early sign of tooth decay. At this point, you may be able to halt or reverse the decay. If you take better care of your teeth and limit sugary or starchy foods and drinks, your enamel can still repair itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Risk_Factors\"><\/span>Risk Factors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Saliva helps prevent plaque from sticking to teeth, and helps wash away food contaminants and digest them. A low salivary flow or dry mouth makes the teeth more susceptible to decay. This is particularly common in patients with diseases that feature dryness of the mouth, Such as Sjogren&#8217;s syndrome and other diseases of the salivary glands. The following genetic factors affecting tooth decay include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Tooth size and shape<\/strong>:<br>Small teeth with multiple deep pits and grooves would be more vulnerable to<br>cavity formation than broad teeth with less and shallower grooves. The grooves<br>and pits provide areas for plaque to build up and are difficult to brush<br>thoroughly.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Thickness of enamel<\/strong>:<br>Enamel is the primary protection of the tooth against cavities, and the longer<br>it takes for a cavity to crack through to the inside of the tooth, the more<br>damage an individual has.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tooth position and bite<\/strong>:<br>crooked, overlapped teeth provide more plaque area to accumulate and are more<br>difficult to clean. Many problems can occur if the bite is poorly aligned. Poor<br>bite alignment can cause a rapid wear down of the enamel on some teeth, leaving<br>soft dentin exposed. Orthodontics is a great measure for cavity prevention,<br>since straight teeth in a proper bite position tend to remain cleaner and<br>cavity-free throughout a person&#8217;s lifetime.<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Tooth eruption time and sequence<\/strong>: People who get their permanent teeth earlier in life are at<br>higher risk of developing cavities as oral hygiene habits may not yet be<br>established.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Complications\"><\/span>Complications<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Cavities and\ndecay of the tooth are so common you might not take them seriously. And you\nmight think it doesn&#8217;t matter if the kids get cavities in their teeth. Cavities\nand tooth decay, however, can cause serious and lasting complications, even for\nchildren who do not yet have their permanent teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Complications\nof cavities may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pain<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tooth abscess<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Swelling or pus around a tooth<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Damage or broken teeth<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chewing problems<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Positioning shifts of teeth after tooth loss<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Prevention\"><\/span>Prevention<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The first\nstep in preventing a dental cavity is to start and keep up with a comprehensive\noral hygiene routine. While this can sound overwhelming, you&#8217;ll be happy to\nenjoy the healthy mouth and beautiful smile that comes with good oral hygiene\nonce it&#8217;s become a habit. While there are many oral hygiene options these days,\nhere&#8217;s a basic checklist of the core items you&#8217;ll need to incorporate into your\ndaily routine to help prevent a dental cavity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you head to the drug store, take this handy list to help get you started on the path to better oral health and hygiene and the prevention of a dental cavity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Toothbrush<\/strong>:&nbsp; Everyone knows you need a toothbrush to keep<br>your teeth clean, but many donate give the variety of toothbrushes much thought.<br>Although hundreds of options are available, search carefully to find a<br>toothbrush which can touch all your teeth&#8217;s surfaces. Finding a brush that<br>includes a textured tongue cleaner is also a good idea, since bacteria that<br>cause oral malodor often live in your tongue.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Toothpaste<\/strong>: it is a vital part of the dental cavity protection oral hygiene routine. <br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mouthwash<\/strong>: Mouthwash is always the last step in an efficient everyday routine for oral hygiene. Not<br>only does the use of a therapeutic mouth rinse leave your mouth feeling clean<br>and your breath fresh, it kills the bacteria that can cause plaque and<br>gingivitis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cavities are permanently damaged areas that form into tiny gaps or holes in the hard surface of your teeth. Cavities, also known as caries or tooth decay, are caused by a combination of factors, including bacteria in your mouth, frequent snacking, sipping sugar beverages, and failing to clean your teeth. Cavities and tooth decay are [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4233,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[578],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1613","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dental-treatment-and-disease"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1613","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1613"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1613\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4233"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1613"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1613"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kayawell.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1613"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}