Tooth Decay

The following things make it more likely that you will have Reference tooth decay Opens New Window and develop Reference cavities Opens New Window.

Things that you can control

• Your dental care.
  • If you do not brush and floss your teeth regularly, Reference plaque Opens New Window and bacteria build up on your teeth. Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day helps remove the plaque from the surfaces of your teeth, between your teeth, and under your gums. With less plaque, there are fewer bacteria to make the acids that eat away your teeth.
  • Not having your teeth cleaned by your dentist also allows plaque to build up. Your dentist or dental hygienist scrapes off the plaque and tartar, giving your teeth a "clean start." Regular visits to your dentist for cleaning and checkups can help prevent tooth decay and also catch other dental problems early, before they become serious.
• Eating foods that are high in sugar and other carbohydrates (pastries, grains, pasta, and bread). Bacteria feed on these types of food, so eating a lot of them speeds up the rate of tooth decay.
• Lack of Reference fluoride Opens New Window. Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making teeth more resistant to acids produced by plaque. If your local water supply does not have enough fluoride in it, use a toothpaste that contains fluoride. Also talk to your dentist or dental hygienist about other ways you can increase your fluoride levels.
• Smoking, using spit (smokeless) tobacco, or being in areas where you breathe in tobacco smoke (secondhand smoke).
• Drinking alcohol.

Things that you cannot control

• Dry mouth (Reference xerostomia Opens New Window) and Reference Sjögren's syndrome Opens New Window. Both of these conditions cause you to be unable to produce enough saliva. Saliva washes away food and harmful sugars and helps protect your teeth from decay. Older adults are more likely to have a dry mouth and more rapid tooth decay because of the dryness. Many prescription and Reference over-the-counter Opens New Window medicines (such as medicines for colds, high blood pressure, and depression) can also cause dry mouth.
• Age. Young people whose teeth are still growing are more likely to have tooth decay. This is because the minerals in new teeth are not stable and are easier for acids to eat away. Older people may lose more gum tissue and be at a greater risk for root cavities.
• Respiratory conditions, such as allergic Reference rhinitis Opens New Window, which cause you to breathe through your mouth. When you breathe through your mouth, you dry out the saliva that can help protect your teeth.
• Certain types of bacteria in the mouth that are more likely to cause tooth decay.
• Reference Diabetes Opens New Window. People who have diabetes may have an Reference immune system Opens New Window that does not work very well, which increases the risk of tooth decay.
• Using medicines that contain sugar. The sugar feeds the bacteria. Your doctor may be able to prescribe sugar-free medicine.

Things that increase an infant's or child's risk

• Going to bed with a bottle of juice, milk, or formula in his or her mouth. The sugar in these drinks feeds the bacteria that cause tooth decay (Reference baby bottle tooth decay Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window).
• Sharing utensils. Babies are not born with decay-causing bacteria in their mouths. But bacteria are easily transferred from the parent into the baby's mouth through utensils. Sometimes kissing can also transfer saliva and bacteria. You can help prevent tooth decay in your child by making sure that your family practices good dental health habits.
• Being exposed to tobacco smoke. The chances of a child's having tooth decay increase with exposure to secondhand smoke.^{Reference 1}

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