The new tooth structure is stronger and more resistant to future acid attacks.

Fluoride can be introduced to the mouth by rinsing with fluoridated mouth rinses and by brushing with fluoride toothpastes.

The Relationship between Sugar and Tooth Cavities

It is often recommended that in order to reduce the risk of tooth cavities, you should limit your intake of sugary food and drinks. However, it is not simply the amount of sugar you consume that affects your risk of developing tooth cavities.

In an infamous study called the Vipeholm Study, a very interesting relationship between the intake of sugary food and drinks was revealed. The study divided the subjects into four groups:

1. A control group that had a limited intake of sugar restricted to meal times only.

2. An experimental group that was given a bag of toffees to eat at a specific time of the day only.

3. An experimental group that was given a bag of toffees to eat as and when they desired throughout the day.

4. An experimental group that was given sweetened drinks as part of their daily diet.

The study revealed that the group consuming the bag of toffees as and when they desired throughout the day presented with the highest incidence of tooth cavities, followed by the group that consumed the bag of toffees only once a day. The control group had the least cavities, followed by the group that was given sweetened drinks as part of their daily diet.

The study concluded that it is not only the presence of sugar in our diets that affect our risk for developing tooth cavities but the type of sugar consumed and the frequency with which it is consumed. Generally, the more often you consumed sugary food and drinks during the day, the higher your risk of developing tooth decay. Secondly, sugary food that is sticky (like toffees) increase the risk of tooth decay more so than non-sticky sugary foods, such as sugary drinks.

Therefore, if you really cannot resist having something sweet in your diet, try to limit it to once a day and to eat it with a main meal. If you must drink sweet drinks, using a straw which takes the liquid to the back of the throat can limit its contact with the teeth. Rinsing out your mouth can also reduce sugars remaining in the mouth after a meal.

Fissure Sealants

Some individuals have molar and premolar teeth with deep grooves on the biting surface. It is easy for bacteria to penetrate these grooves and cause tooth decay. To protect these grooves from tooth decay, you can ask your dentist for "fissure sealants" which seal the grooves from bacteria.

Conclusion

Tooth cavities is a dental disease that is easily preventable. For some individuals, simply maintaining recommended oral hygiene practices is sufficient. However, for other individuals, further preventative measures may be necessary to provide added protection against tooth decay.

Learn more about this author, Shen-Li Lee.
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