Any way to stop cavities?

I went 21 years of my life without cavities, then last dentist trip, I had 7! Now, I'm called Cavity Queen even though I brush my teeth twice a day and floss everyday. Is there anything to be done to stop cavities?! I use cavity protection toothpaste too.

It gets so expensive having to fix all these cavities and having to take time off from work. Help! So yeah, 22 years old, had 7 cavities filled, and I feel like I have a few more!

Good oral hygiene significantly reduce your risk of getting cavities. Brushing and the use of a water pick can help reduce your chance of cavities.Brushing removes bacteria as well as the food debris bacteria feed on. When brushing it is crucial to brush all tooth surfaces which takes at least 2-3 minutes. Unfortunately, most people only brush for less than 45 missing a large percentage of their tooth surfaces.

Flossing everyday is crucial to preventing cavities. Flossing reaches the nearly 35 percent of your mouth that your toothbrush can not reach. In these areas, bacteria live happily pouring out cavity causing acid. Remember brushing without flossing is like taking a shower and only washing two thirds of your body. The remaining third still remains dirty !

In addition to practicing good oral hygiene, there are other things you can do to reduce your risk of getting cavities:


To Prevent Cavities, Watch What You Eat
Bacteria are particularly fond of foods containing sugars and carbohydrates. These foods provide bacteria with energy to grow, reproduce, and create enamel eating acid. A special favorite of bacteria are foods which tend to stick to teeth like peanut butter, caramel, and honey. When stuck to teeth these foods are not cleared by chewing and swallowing. Consequently they provide bacteria with a long lasting food source from which to make acid.

When you eat meals or snacks containing large amounts sugars, carbohydrates, or "sticky" foods which tend to get stuck to teeth, make sure to follow the meal with water to help wash off food particles remaining on teeth. If possible, brush your teeth immediately after the meal.

To Prevent Cavities, Watch the Timing of Snacks

The timing of your snacks is crucial to preventing cavities. The acid produced by bacteria is neutralized by saliva and cleared from the mouth. After the acid is cleared minerals in saliva crystallize on the enamel to begin to repair areas damaged by the acid.

Larger intervals between meals provide more opportunity for acid to be neutralized and more time for the acid damage to be repaired. Frequent snacks, however, provide for a constant acid attack and provide less time for tooth repair.

This explains why snacks eaten with a meal are better for teeth than snacks eaten between meals. A candy bar eaten with a meal, for example, is less likely to contribute to cavity formation than a candy bar eaten as a snack between meals.

This also explains why fewer larger sized meals are better for teeth than more frequent smaller sized meals. Likewise, sipping on sugar containing liquids through out the day is much more detrimental than drinking sugar containing liquids with a meal.

Use Fluoride to Prevent Cavities

Fluoride is a wonder of modern dentistry. Fluoride incorporates itself into tooth enamel strengthening the enamel and making it more resistant to acid attacks. Most adults receive adequate amounts of fluoride in their toothpastes. Children often receive adequate amounts in their drinking water. If your water is not fluoridated you may want to consult your pediatrician to see about providing fluoride supplements for your child.

Visit Your Dentist On a Regular Basis

Dental problems often remain silent creating pain only after significant damage has occurred. Dentists can identify many of these potentially devastating problems before they cause major damage.

Additionally, dentists can detect places in your mouth that you miss when brushing. These areas are prime targets for cavity formation. In areas where cavities are just beginning to form, dentists can use high concentration fluoride treatments to prevent the need for the dental drills and fillings.

With proper oral hygiene and attention to what we eat and when we eat, cavities can be virtually eliminated.

lay off the junk food and pop

Stop eating sugary foods.

Your teeth most be soft- and you must eat a lot of sweets- or your water does not have fluoride-- the only explanation and probably it is all three scenarios......don't overbrush- causes the plaque to deteriorate off your teeth and makes them soft. Check out if there is fluoride treaments available to you where you live--- they stopped putting fluoride in the drinking water for about, 30 years at least now? and the same thing happend to my one daughter- no cavities for 21 years and then wammo- she even needs crowns on her front teeth--check with your GP it could be due to hormone imbalances because my daughter has a severe hormone problem that they haven't completely diagnosed her as what it is from or a cure-- and answering this question brought up this coincidence so see your GP---calcium deficiency is another biggie............good luck.........I hate dentists

as usual we can stop it buy using colgate.if it still make you suffer i sugget you to pull out your teeth

One thing you might try is to cut back on sweets if you eat a lot or drink a lot of sugared juices and soda. Also maybe a flouride rinse like act and even ask your dentist if flouride paste is right for you. Also try bringing a toothbrush to work with you and brushing after lunch especially if you eat a lot of little snacks brushing 3 or 4 times wont hurt as long as you dont brush too hard. Also see where your cavities were. If they were on the biting surface then its your brushing. If it's between your teeth its flossing you need to pick up on. Anyone can floss but belive it or not a lot of people dont floss properly. You really want to be sure you get around each side of each tooth. But deffinatley try a flouride rinse like act and try brushing a little more often.

Good luck