According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), tooth decay is one of the most common chronic diseases experienced by children and young adults. Tooth decay is, in fact, four times more common than asthma for children ages 14-17. Additionally, 90% of adults who are 20 years old or older will experience tooth decay on some level of severity. Tooth decay is a big problem for young and old alike.
With tooth decay being such a common thing people will experience, we thought we’d put our heads together at our practice and put a blog post together about some of the most common risk factors for tooth decay throughout various stages of your life.
Age
People on either end of the age spectrum, young or old, are at high risk for developing tooth decay for different reasons. Oral health habits and diet are some of the most common risk factors affecting younger children, whereas medication and other oral health conditions as a result of other illnesses commonly cause problems for the older population.
Snacking
The root cause of most tooth decay is acid produced by bacteria as it feeds on sugars and other food particles that don’t get removed through regular brushing and flossing. Even if your brushing and flossing routine is spectacular, frequent snacking on unhealthy foods will lodge food for bacteria in hard-to-reach places that you will miss.
Back teeth
Some teeth are more at risk for developing tooth decay because of their location in your mouth. Molars and premolars, the teeth located toward the back of your mouth, are much more vulnerable to tooth decay because they are harder to reach and have surfaces with lots of nooks and crannies.
Sugary drinks
If you take a good serving of sugar in your coffee or routinely hit the soda vending machine for a fizzy caffeinated fix, you’re not only coating your teeth in a buffet for sugar-loving bacteria, but you’re also washing them in enamel-destroying acid. Consume sugary beverages in moderation.
Dry mouth
Dry mouth can be caused by a number of health conditions and medications. A lack of saliva caused by dry mouth can be detrimental to your oral health because saliva is an important part of rinsing your mouth and counteracting the effects of acid on your teeth and gums.
Inadequate fluoride
Fluoride is an important part of good healthy tooth structure. It’s usually added to toothpastes, rinses, and can be found in many public drinking water supplies. If you don’t get enough fluoride through these means, it can weaken your tooth enamel and open the door for many early signs of tooth decay.
Stomach acid
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, causes stomach acid to flow back up into your mouth, which can break down your tooth enamel. Additionally, excessive vomiting and some types of eating disorders can expose your teeth to too much stomach acid and cause rapid decay. If you suffer from GERD or other ailments that cause your teeth to be exposed to excessive amounts of stomach acid, talk to your primary care physician about your treatment options.
Thanks for Reading!
Brush your teeth twice and floss at least once daily to significantly reduce your risk for cavities and gum disease. If you enjoy our blog, please drop by and like our Facebook page to see when we share our newest posts.