Cavities Aren’t Just for Kids

What Do You Mean I Have a Cavity?

Hearing the dentist utter the sentence “You have a cavity” generally shocks adults. After all, don’t cavities mostly affect children? Mostly, yes, adults are not immune to tooth decay – not by a long shot.

According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, tooth decay is not the least bit uncommon for adults, with 90% of those aged 20 to 64 having cavities in their permanent teeth, and 23% of that same age group have untreated decay.

Tooth decay is generally defined as the destruction of tooth enamel. While consumption of sugar and other carbohydrates is usually blamed for tooth decay, it’s not the sugar itself that destroys tooth enamel. A common, harmful bacteria that resides in the mouth is actually to blame, with sugar and carbs as its accomplices.

S. mutans feasts on the sugar and carbs left on tooth surfaces, creating acids. It is these acids that actually cause erosion. This is why brushing and flossing are considered crucial to good oral care. Brushing helps remove food particles trapped in plaque (a sticky film), leaving the bacteria less to feast on. Flossing, on the other hand, helps remove the food particles trapped between teeth and just below the gum line, some of S. mutans other favorite hangouts.

But Children Do Get Cavities More Often Than Adults, Right?

Children absolutely are more prone to forming cavities. There are several contributing factors that put children at a higher risk for cavity formation, including:

•    An overabundance of S. mutans;
•    A diet high in sugars and carbohydrates (especially sticky candies)
•    A lack of proper brushing skills

What Does It Mean If I Get Cavities As An Adult?

If you’re a diligent brusher and flosser, it’s likely that you have a high population of S. mutans living in your mouth. Don’t freak out – S. mutans is one of the hundreds of bacteria that like to hang out in the warm, dark, wet environment your mouth provides. The use of beneficial bacteria called probiotics can help reestablish a healthy bacterial balance in the mouth.