Cavities

[Penelope]

Hi

I went to see my dentist last week and he said that I have two cavities on the inside surface of my top front teeth. He was saying that apparently these teeth have a shape that is very easy for them to decay and that's why they have decayed.

I am 22 years old and would like to know what sort of precautions I need to take to prevent more cavities in the future. If I drink more milk, would the calcium in milk make my teeth stronger and less likely to decay?

Also would using an electric toothbrush help? I just have a normal hand brush and I don't know if the electric brush could help me clean my teeth better. I really don't want to have any more tooth cavities.

[Dr Mohsen J. Esfahani]

Cavities are usually caused over time by bacteria fermenting dietary sugars in a susceptible tooth surface.

To prevent cavities, you need to reduce the frequency of your sugar intake. In a particular day, you need to keep your sugar intake to around 3 times a day.

Keeping a dietary diary for a week is a good way of assessing accurately how many times a day, you expose your teeth to sugar. If the frequency of sugar exposure is high (ie. snaking on sugary food frequently throughout the day), you are putting your teeth at a greater risk of cavity formation.