Most common causes of cavities in the teeth — and how to prevent them

Cavities are incredibly common, affecting 90% of adults betwixt the ages of 19 and 64 — but they are often preventable.

Also known arsenic "dental caries," cavities are damaged areas successful the hard parts of the teeth caused by tooth decay, according to Mayo Clinic.

These areas go tiny openings oregon holes that tin pb to toothaches, infections and adjacent bony loss.

How to cognize if you person a cavity

When a cavity is conscionable starting, you whitethorn not person immoderate symptoms astatine all. That’s wherefore it’s important to beryllium checked regularly astatine a dentist, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

Even if your rima feels fine, a nonrecreational whitethorn beryllium capable to prime up connected smaller signals earlier the decay grows.

IS OZEMPIC RUINING YOUR TEETH? WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT IMPACT ON DENTAL HEALTH

Once the decay gets larger, determination whitethorn beryllium symptoms similar toothaches, crisp pains erstwhile eating, disposable holes successful the teeth, staining connected the aboveground of a bony oregon symptom erstwhile biting.

Cavities are holes successful the teeth done which bacteria tin enter. (iStock)

What causes a cavity?

Dental plaque forming successful the rima is what leads to bony decay, the process that creates cavities.

Plaque forms erstwhile bacteria successful the mouth mixes with "sugary oregon starchy food" similar milk, juice, breadstuff and pasta, according to Cleveland Clinic.

FLUORIDE EXPOSURE LINKED TO ‘DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS’ ON HEALTH OF PREGNANT WOMEN, INFANTS

If those sugars and starches are not removed from the teeth done healthy habits, similar regular flossing and brushing aft meals, bacteria statesman feeding connected them, the supra root states.

The acids from bacteria portion distant bony enamel, leaving tiny openings that people the opening stages of a cavity. Bacteria and acerb tin participate done these holes and scope the susceptible interior parts of the teeth, causing symptom and much terrible problems.

If you don’t cleanable sugars and starches disconnected your teeth properly, bacteria statesman feeding connected them and wearing down the hard outer ammunition of the tooth. (iStock)

Fox News Digital antecedently spoke to Dr. Ricky Marshall astir the interaction of tummy acerb and saliva accumulation connected dental health.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"The magnitude of acerb coming up and contacting the teeth volition perfectly lend to accrued bony decay," said Marshall, who is the proprietor of Stratland Dental successful Glendale, Arizona, and a dentist astatine Wolff Family Dentistry & Orthodontics successful Queen Creek, Arizona.

"A operation of adust rima and accrued stomach acid tin beryllium detrimental to teeth," helium said.

BRUSH, FLOSS, MOUTHWASH: DENTISTS REVEAL WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS THE CORRECT ORDER

Dry mouth, linked to causes similar snoring and perchance definite medications, tin summation the hazard of bony decay owed to reduced saliva production.

"Your saliva clears distant the acerb and helps to repair the enamel," the CDC states connected its website. "If the repair isn't accelerated enough, bacteria get wrong your bony and make cavities." 

Saliva helps wide distant bacteria to support plaque from forming, truthful it's important to dainty adust rima symptoms erstwhile they appear, experts say. (iStock)

Ways to forestall cavities

Cleveland Clinic recommends brushing your teeth with a soft-bristled brushwood doubly a day, and ideally aft each meal.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Experts besides urge cutting backmost connected sugary, starchy foods and drinks. As mentioned above, these tin premix with bacteria and beforehand the buildup of dental plaque.

For much Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health

"You should sojourn your dentist each year, particularly to find immoderate cavities," the CDC advises.

For tiny cavities, your dentist whitethorn urge utilizing fluoride oregon different products. Large cavities whitethorn necessitate fillings oregon adjacent basal canals.