What You Need to Know About Cavities - Part I

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The pain definitely tells us when we have cavities, but few of us understand why we get them. You likely know that poor dental hygiene causes cavities, but do you understand why not brushing or flossing causes cavities?
In order to understand all that's involved in the making of a cavity, you've got to first understand the key players. Those players include saliva, pellicle, plaque and calculus and each resides in the mouth.
Saliva is really important when it comes to protecting teeth and keeping our mouths healthy. Saliva keeps teeth, gums and other tissues inside the mouth lubricated and moist. Saliva helps break food down while eating, and afterwards it washes away some of the bits of food that get stuck on teeth. Saliva also can neutralize acids which lowers the amount present in the mouth. Interestingly, it can even help protect us against certain viruses and bacteria.
If you've ever noticed a slippery feeling on your teeth right after you brush, that's the result of proteins in saliva called pellicle. Pellicle coat teeth after brushing by absorbing into the surface. The pellicle gives teeth an extra layer of protection against decay-causing acids. Unfortunately, bacteria and microorganisms can easily attach to the pellicle and this is actually the stage during which plaque begins to develop.
If you were to look at the white sticky substance on your teeth through a microscope, you'd realize that plaque consists of yeast, microorganisms, bacteria, protozoa, mycoplasmas, white blood cells, food particles, body tissues and viruses.
If people realized that, surely they'd do a better job brushing and flossing! Several hours after brushing is when plaque starts to develop and in just one hour, a good amount will accumulate. If left untouched other microorganisms join the mix, thickening the plaque and turning on its destructive powers.
Bacteria are in the mouth too and they're always present in both good and bad form. The good bacteria help us fight colds and other illnesses. The bad intensify the tooth decaying process. Streptococcus mutans is the worst, producing acid while attaching to teeth. Lactobacillus only can attach to plaque so it doesn't do quite as much damage. Several other bacteria located inside the mouth contribute to tooth decay and periodontal disease.
To summarize, decay begins when bacteria start attaching themselves to the pellicle. Six or so hours later, plaque begins to form. The bacteria present in your mouth produce acids, and these acids, by throwing the pH balance of your mouth out of balance, cause tooth decay. In the case of tooth decay, a process called demineralization begins when the pH level inside the mouth drops below 5.5.
Remember, this chain reaction begins the moment you finish brushing your teeth. But brushing is what continually returns the pH level in your mouth back into the range of 6.2 and 7.0, which is considered neutral. That's why brushing and flossing are so important in fighting tooth decay.

Part II will further elaborate on the importance of a neutral pH level in preventing tooth decay.

For more information visit us at http://www.1305dental.com/ or call us at 203-255-5999
Dr Conant is a general dentist located in Fairfield, CT / Her passion is Smile Makeovers including veneers, crowns and much more! Visit her website at http://www.drconant.com/

Dental Care for Babies

There is this belief among some people that dental care for babies isn't an important issue because those 'baby' teeth will be replaced by permanent teeth. They believe that because baby teeth fall out, the focus should be on the child's permanent teeth.

It's true that primary teeth fall out and are replaced by permanent teeth. But one of the most important reasons to teach proper dental care to children is so that the habits they learn early will stick with them throughout the rest of their lives. If good dental habits aren't in place by the time permanent teeth begin appearing, which is around 6 years of age, developing good habits will be more difficult later on.

Most babies start getting teeth when they are 6 months old. The bottom row central incisors typically are the first to appear, followed by the top row central incisors. All together there are 20 primary teeth and they usually erupt according to a 'schedule' that most infants follow. The last primary teeth to erupt are the second molars and they'll appear between the ages of 2 and 3.

If not properly cared for, an infant's teeth can begin to decay from the moment they first erupt. Infant dental decay is painful and should be avoided. Of course, at only 6 months old, an infant does not have the physical or mental skills needed to brush his teeth. At this stage of life, it's up to the caregiver to clean a baby's teeth using either a toothbrush designed for an infant or a very soft washcloth. Just gently brush or rub the tooth (teeth) once a day, before bed.

Pediatric dentists advise that the first dental visit take place when the baby turns 1. That first visit is important and the dentist will want to ensure your baby is getting fluoride from his drinking water. If not, the dentist can write a prescription for fluoride which will help protect the child's developing teeth from dental decay. If a baby's teeth are showing signs of spotting or staining and the baby has not yet turned one, it's a good idea to visit the dentist sooner.
To keep decay under control, don't give infants sugary drinks, especially at night from a bottle.

During the day, don't fill a baby bottle with sweet drinks to use as a pacifier. Keep in mind that most milk and formula and even fruit drinks contain sugar. Doing any of the above can cause baby bottle tooth decay. It's not a good idea to coat a pacifier with sugar either as that can also lead to decay.

At age 2, children can begin daily brushing using a small dab of fluoride toothpaste. Be sure to supervise the tooth brushing.

At meal and snack time, steer clear of sugary drinks, foods and snacks. Teaching your child early on to eat vegetables and healthy snacks will limit tooth decay and is an excellent way to instill good eating habits.


Infomation provided by Dr. Mariana Conant, she has a Family & Cosmetic dentistry office in Fairfield, CT.

When a patient meets Dr. Mariana and they want a new brighter smile, it feels like they are getting to know someone who understands exactly what they are looking for. Dr. Mariana is accurate in matching esthetic restorations not only to the smile, but also to the lips, complexion, and the overall appearance of each individual. Dr. Mariana has a trained eye that finds each patient the shape and shade that works best for them. Dr. Mariana believes that full mouth restorations can increase a patients quality of life and self-esteem by giving them back function and form, but it is not for everyone. You may sometimes achieve beautiful results with a more conservative approach. Dr. Mariana likes to emphasize that maintaining a proper oral hygiene and visiting the dentist at least once a year is essential for smile beauty.

For more information contact our office today! We can be reached at 203-255-5999