Why am I getting cavities when I do everything I should? Read more please...?

I brush, floss, and use a floride rince every day. I dont eat sweets (can't anyway because they make my teeth hurt). I dont drink a lot of pop. But yet I still get cavities. Also, drinking cold stuff hurts my teeth. I went to the dentist and have 8 cavities! But I work really hard on my teeth! I do everything I should. Do some people just get cavities because their teeth arent as strong as they should be? What should I do? I also use sensodyne toothpaste too but my teeth are really sensitive. I cannot eat candy cuz it hurts! The dentist said I do have really healthy gums so at least that is a plus. And I don't have insurance so this is going to be expensive. But the dentist said we can take care of one at a time since I definitely cannot afford to take care of everything at once. Any suggestions? I am already doing everything I was told to do but I still get cavities. Plus my wisdom teeth are coming in and there is no room for them so they will have to be pulled. I have no luck!! :-(

I don't know your income, or where you live, but maybe you might qualify for a medical card through your state. Sometimes you can get cavities and do everything right. some people have normally bad teeth. I commend you on what you've been doing. I've had the same problem and because I've been going through chemo therapy I haven't been able to have dental work done and my teeth are in bad shape(some places my teeth are gone). Are you having the dentist clean the teeth at least twice a year. Sometimes he can get things off you can't. Also, it could be your tooth brush. How often do you replace it? I changed to an angled toothbrush and it did better, however you should buy a new toothbrush every six month. Drink more milk and take calcium supplements, eat foods rich in calcium and other vitamins and minerals. Sometimes what we eat makes a difference. Age plays a factor too.

Genetics. Your teeth can only be as strong as your alleles code for.

it could just be plain on hereditary for some people, my son takes very good care of his teeth but still has dental problems.

Look after your general health. Do not worry about soda and sweets... the thing to be concerned about is your diet in general... are you eating properly.... and that does not need to be dull or boring ...Why not take some time for yourself and look at www.marthastewart.com and watch the videos for Everyday Food.... the are fun to watch and may give you some ideas... fresh salads don't need to be boring, roast potatoes, pasta, roast meats (if you are not a vegetarian), and the side dishes are very nice on her website... asparagus tart made of purchased puff paste ... it really is your health to watch...

Some people have a weak enamel and there teeth break down. One thing that you can do is got and buy Phosphlor its a newer rinse on the market and it has the most active fluoride than all the others. The best thing to do is to rinse after you brush at night right before bed. This will also help with the sensitivity problem. You should also brush with warm water so you don't aggravate it. You can also get an electric tooth brush. It is a good investment. The sonic care is a great one. Some dentist sell them at there cost so i would call around and see. You should also try to get the decay fixed asap. If you let it go for too long it will get to the nerve and you will have to have a root canal. Most dentist also want a crown put on any tooth that has a root canal. This is far More costly than a filling. Good luck to you. I am just like you. I brush twice a day and floss once a day. Yet i still have a ton of cavities. Good thing i work for a dentist.

Sounds like you are doing everything to encourage healthy teeth.

Is it possible that you're doing too much? My first guess (due to your sensitive teeth) is that you have a problem with the enamel on your teeth. The problem could possibly be (not saying for sure) due to overdoing it. Brush for no more than about two minutes at a time, and if you're using one of those sonic brushes, you may want to stop as it could lead to eroding the enamel of your teeth, which is what protects them. The Braun professional care toothbrushes work really well and doesn't harm your teeth.

Another major contributor could be the TYPE of products you are using. If both your toothpaste and mouth rinse have ingredients to help whiten teeth and you're using it excessively, that would definitely erode the enamel.

I whitened my teeth some years ago (although I really didn't need it) and it caused severe tooth sensitivity in about five of my teeth for several months. At my following dentist's appointment I had three cavities. The two could possibly be related.

The exact same thing has happened to me recently. When I asked my dentist why, he said my teeth were soft and that some people just don't get the genes for harder, strong teeth. So what we're doing now is filling them one at a time to stop decay, and later I'll get crowns. Make sure you get those wisdom teeth pulled; if you leave them in they'll decay quickly.

I would say that you are not getting enough calicum! Drink more milk to strengthen your bones and teeth!

Continuous sensitivity of your teeth usually stems from clenching or grinding your teeth. Limited sensitivity can be from many things, but if it is chronic you may want to consider wearing a bite guard. The position of rest is lips together, teeth apart. As you go through your day, when you are concentrating on something else, try and see where your teeth are. If they are touching, you are most likely clenching and if you are clenching during the day you are 100% certain that you are doing it at night while you sleep. You can generate up to 1500 lbs of force clenching your teeth at night which is what irritates the teeth and keeps them sensitive. Clenching is subconcious like breathing - you do it all day long but are usually unaware of it. It can also lead to cracks in the teeth which may be why you are getting some areas of decay.

Do you have acid reflex? If you do, you want to treat it because it bathes your teeth in acid and makes them more prone to decay. Do you suck on mints or chew gum often? The minute you put something in your mouth your saliva becomes acidic so if you suck mints or chew gum (sugar free or sugared) you are bathing your teeth in acid which makes them more prove to decay. Do you sip on drinks slowly through the day? You only want to sip on water throughout the day. Soda is highly acidic. If you place a tooth in diet soda or regular soda, the tooth will be dissolved over three days. If you are only drinking one soda a day but you are drinking it over a long period of time, you are keeping your saliva activated and the soda is highly acidic as well. Bulemia is also the cause of much decay and sensitivity. The constant purging exposes the teeth to high amounts of acidity that erode the enamel and make it susceptible to decay. You may want to switch to a prescription flouride toothpase (prevident) instead of the rinse or there is a gel that can be used in trays that you wear overnight or for a couple hours at night. Your dentist can prescribe it for you.

Do you have a dental school near you? You may want to get your wisdom teeth removed at the school because it would be much more affordable. You could also have your fillings done there as well. Good luck!