Kids Got Cavities?

The Common Cause of Tooth Decay

“Ava has a few cavities!” the dentist proclaims. Her mom looks at the dentist with a mix of wonder and confusion – how could Ava have cavities? She brushes twice a day, she’s pretty sure the 8-year-old has the flossing act down pat, and she seldom drinks soda.

We have all been there, wondering how our kids could have gotten cavities when we feel like we have taken every necessary precaution. It happens, but why?

There Is a Common Cause of Cavities

First of all, we can lay aside the guilt. Kids get cavities despite our best intentions. Sometimes it’s because of a slip in good oral-care habits, and other times it’s not. The most common cause of cavities, a type of bacteria commonly known as S. mutans, naturally thrives in the mouth. No matter how often or how well you brush or floss, this bacteria can still wreak havoc on otherwise healthy teeth.

S. mutans can fully repopulate to its pre-brushing levels within hours. In that time, its growth is fueled by not only sugary foods, but also those high in carbohydrates. Most kids nosh not only on sugary snacks, but also on carb-rich foods, like chips, fries, pastas and crackers.

How Does Tooth Brushing Help Curb Cavities, Then?

S. mutans lives in the plaque (a stick film) that coats teeth. When we brush our teeth, the point is to remove as much plaque as possible, giving S. mutans the boot in the process.  Brushing also helps remove the tiny food particles that get stuck in the plaque and that also serve as a feast for S. mutans.

Why Doesn’t Brushing Stop All Tooth Decay?

While brushing is always the first-line defense in preventing tooth decay, it has its imperfections. One of the issues with tooth brushing is that it not only doesn’t clean between teeth, it also doesn’t remove bacteria from the crevices and hard-to-reach places on the tooth surfaces. It’s those areas where S. mutans hangs out and waits to repopulate after brushing.

Brushing alone simply isn’t enough to deter an overgrowth of harmful bacteria in the mouth.

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