How Do Cavities Form?

How Cavities Form: Overview

Cavities, or tooth decay, occur from acid attack to the enamel surface of your teeth first. This acid attack can come in many forms. Direct acid attack comes from acid foods and beverages like soda, citrus fruits, and coffee. Indirect acid attack comes from the bacteria in your mouth.

These bacteria feed off of carbohydrates, which are in just about everything other than water, and produce acid which in turn dissolves your tooth’s enamel.

Topics We Cover in This Article:

• The 3 Layers of a Tooth
• Types of Cavities
• Symptoms of Cavities
• How Long Does it Take for Cavities to Form?
• What Can I Do to Prevent Cavities?
• How to Prevent Cavities
• How Cavities Form: FAQs
• Closing Thoughts

The 3 Layers of a Tooth

Part of understanding how cavities form is analyzing the layers of a tooth. Specifically, teeth are composed of 3 main layers.

• Enamel layer: This part of the tooth is the hard outer “shield,” which protects the inner part of your tooth from all of the wear and tear that your teeth go through on a daily basis throughout your lifetime.
• Dentin layer: This layer lies beneath the enamel layer and is the part of the tooth that has some “feeling” and is much softer than the outer enamel shell.  Some people have very sensitive dentin and other not so much resulting in a range of teeth sensitivity among the population.
• Pulp: Otherwise known as the “nerve” of the tooth. The pulp is like a chamber filled with nerves and blood supply used in tooth development. This part gives you that cold sensation when biting into a cold ice cream cone for a few seconds.

Types of Cavities

There are several types of cavities that can develop in your teeth. These are:

• Smooth surface cavities: This is a slow-growing type that over time dissolves your tooth’s enamel. With proper oral care, you can help to prevent or even reverse it.
• Pit/fissure decay: This cavity type forms on the top of your tooth’s chewing surface, or the side or back of your tooth.
• Root decay: Patients with receding gums are more susceptible to root decay. A receding gum line can expose your tooth’s roots to plaque and acid.

Symptoms of Cavities

During the initial stages of tooth decay on the outer enamel surface, you will likely not feel anything. However, once the decay develops beyond the enamel and into the dentin and pulp, that’s where you’ll likely begin to experience:

• A persistent toothache or discomfort in your mouth
• Tooth sensitivity to hot or cold foods and drinks
• Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
• Bleeding gums or signs of gum disease
• Facial swelling or discomfort

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should get in touch with your dentist. Contact Van Hoof Dental at (920) 733-4555 for a cavity treatment consultation today!

How Long Does it Take for Cavities to Form?

Cavities typically develop over several months to several years. The exact timeframe will vary based on individual factors like oral hygiene, diet, and genetics. Neglecting regular dental care, consuming sugary foods, and overall having poor brushing habits only expedite tooth decay.

This is why routine bi-yearly or yearly regular preventive dental care is important – in the long run, it not only saves your tooth’s health, but also your wallet!

Saliva’s Role in Cavity Prevention

Your saliva is amazing and works as a protective mechanism against all this acid attack. It acts as a buffer to raise the pH in the mouth back to a stable environment that actually promotes tooth re-mineralization.

However, the key to all of this is timing. It takes roughly 30 minutes for your saliva to neutralize acids in the mouth that occurred from either having a meal, snack, or beverage.

So, the worst thing you can do for your teeth is to have a sip of that soda or a bite of that snack every 30 minutes throughout the day – this causes the pH in your saliva to always be low enough to be dissolving tooth structure and causing decay.

What Can I Do to Prevent Cavities?

At Van Hoof Dental, we get many patients who ask us, “what can I do to prevent cavities?”

While some people are more susceptible to tooth decay than others, but there are some steps that everyone can take to lessen the chance of developing new cavities and protecting any dental work that you currently have.

Before you start to think about only consuming water, there is hope for cavity prevention! Let’s talk about what you can do:

How to Prevent Cavities

Notes on Diet

In general, we recommend that you save sugary candy, cookies, soda (and other sugary or acidic drinks), for only special occasions. Fruits and fruit juices can also contribute to cavities over time. Also, limit in-between meal snacks.

Brushing & Flossing

Maintain good brushing and flossing habits. You should brush at least twice a day for approximately two minutes. Be sure to brush all top, side, and back surfaces of your teeth.

You should also aim to floss once a day to maintain good oral health and reduce the risk of cavities developing in your mouth.

Cavity Prevention Toothpaste

Part of cavity prevention is investing in the right toothpaste. When browsing for toothpastes, look for ones with fluoride that mention “cavity protection.”

When in doubt of which toothpaste to buy, ask Dr. Van Hoof for a recommendation next time you come in for an appointment.

What Dr. Van Hoof Recommends for Cavity Prevention

I recommend staying away from acidic snacks and beverages in general.

However, the safest way to consume these would be during meal times rather than between meals. We all need to eat and from a dental point of view, 3 meals a day is recommended to allow your saliva to promote remineralization of your teeth for much of the day.

How Cavities Form: FAQs

Below are some of the most common questions we get relating to how cavities form:

How Do Cavities Form: Closing Thoughts

In conclusion, you should remember that:

• Cavities are caused by acid attack to the enamel surface of your teeth eventually eroding into the dentin layer and forming a cavity
• You cannot feel cavities until they are very deep
• It takes 30 minutes for your saliva to neutralize the acids in your mouth following food or beverage to promote remineralization of your teeth
• Snacking or sipping a beverage throughout the day can cause a high rate of cavities
• Stick to 3 meals a day if possible

Our Fox Valley and Appleton dentists and other staff are looking forward to meeting you! More about Van Hoof Dental’s cavity preventative care, fillings, surgeries, and more on our dental services page.