Do You Have a Cavity? Five Foolproof Ways to Tell

Cavities are even more ubiquitous than you think. 91% of adults aged 20-64 have had dental work on at least one cavity in their lives. Cavities are easily remedied, but if left untreated, they can lead to serious oral issues.

There are three different types of cavities you can get. There is root decay, pit and fissure decay and smooth-surface decay. Root decay is common in older adults who have receding gums; pit and fissure decays arise in the back teeth of the mouth, and smooth-surface decay is the type of cavity that occurs when there is too much plaque buildup. You want to avoid getting all three of these cavities.

You May Have a Cavity if You Experience or Have One or More of the Following:

            ∙ Mild to severe tooth pain

            ∙ Tooth sensitivity to the hot or cold food or beverage

            ∙ Dark spots located on the tooth

            ∙ Hole inside the tooth

            ∙ Bad breath

How Can You Prevent These Painful Cavities?

Cavities can be such a headache for whoever is unlucky enough to get one. Therefore, it is imperative for you to understand what causes cavities.

What Causes These Painful Cavities?

            ∙ Poor Nutrition

            ∙ Eating acidic foods regularly

            ∙ Genetics

            ∙ Poor Oral Hygiene

How Do You Successfully Avoid Getting Cavities?

There is a relatively simple regimen you can follow to ensure cavities will become a thing of the past. The first step is to brush your teeth 2-3 times a day and floss your teeth 1-2 times a day. The next step is eschewing acidic foods that could potentially lead to tooth decay. The third, an arguably most important step, is to set a biannual appointment with your Oceanside NY dentist to clean all that plaque off of your teeth. If you follow those simple steps, you will be sure to not run into any cavity problems.