I Floss and Brush Daily and Still Get Cavities – What Gives?

We all know how important it is to brush and floss our teeth. It’s drilled into us children and reinforced every time we visit the dentist as adults. If that’s all you need to do to keep cavities at bay, though, how come they’re still so common? After all, the latest stats from Statistics Canada show that 93% of Canadians aged 20 to 79 have had at least one cavity.

The truth is that oral hygiene is just one of the many factors that determine how likely you are to develop cavities. To better understand why, let’s talk about how cavities form and why brushing and flossing may not be enough to keep your teeth intact.

What Causes Cavities?

Cavities form when your teeth are exposed to too much acid. Good oral hygiene tackles this problem on two fronts: it removes some of the bacteria in your mouth and delivers fluoride to remineralize your teeth.

When you eat or drink almost anything other than water, tiny particles of food get left behind in your mouth. The bacteria in your mouth feed on these particles throughout the day. They excrete acid when they do this, weakening your tooth enamel. Eventually, they’ll break through to the dentin underneath, creating a spot of decay we call a cavity.

Brushing and flossing scrapes off some of these bacteria before they can hurt your teeth. Most oral hygiene products (toothpaste, mouthwash, even some brands of floss) also have fluoride in them. This mineral helps your enamel rebuild itself after it’s been weakened.

Why Good Oral Hygiene Might Not Be Enough

So why is it that brushing and flossing aren’t helping you? There are a few other factors that influence how likely you are to get cavities.

• Diet. Consuming a lot of sugary food and  drink makes you more likely to develop cavities. Highly acidic foods and drink (like black coffee and citrus fruits) can also cause tooth decay.
• How often you eat or drink. Even if you minimize the sugar in your diet, snacking and sipping throughout the day increases the amount of time your teeth spend exposed to acids.
• Existing restorations. Teeth with fillings, crowns, and other restorations are more vulnerable to decay around the margins.
• Tooth anatomy. Some folks have teeth with thinner enamel or deeper pits and grooves than the average person. When food gets caught in these spots, it takes longer to remove and tends to cause more damage.
• Medical conditions. Conditions like diabetes can raise the amount of sugar in your saliva, making it extremely difficult to keep cavities in check. Conditions like Sjogren’s syndrome and treatments like chemotherapy and certain medications can dry out your mouth, robbing you of your saliva’s remineralizing effects.

The more of these factors are working against you, the more likely you are to get cavities.

Why You Should Brush and Floss Anyway

While it’s true that some people are more susceptible to cavities than others, that doesn’t mean oral hygiene is useless. Think about it this way – if the cards are stacked against you, shouldn’t you do everything you can to tip the odds back in your favour?

That’s what diligent brushing and flossing can do. By brushing twice and flossing once every day, you’ll remove as much bacteria and food residue as possible. You’ll also give your teeth the raw materials they need to fight back against the factors putting you at risk.

Take Back Control of Your Oral Health

It’s hard to stay motivated to care for your oral health when you feel like you’re not getting anywhere. It’s worth your while, though, and you don’t have to struggle alone. Our experts at Coscarella Family Dentistry are here to help you keep your teeth as close to cavity-free as possible. Contact us today to enroll as a new patient and see how much of a difference professional guidance and support can make.