Over the years of my practice I have been asked many questions by many parents. The next issues will bring up some of these questions.

My Daughter never eats any candy - How can she have so many cavities?

Many people do not realize other factors in the foods that their child eats can cause cavities. Even naturally-occurring sugars (for example Juices and dried fruits) can cause decay. Additionally, the frequency of eating or snacking, and the physical properties of the foods also affect the development of tooth decay

Eating Frequency

Each time your child eats, the mouth environment becomes more acidic, which is optimal for tooth decay to occur. Over a few hours, the acidic conditions in the mouth neutralize, which halts the tooth decay cycle. If your child is constantly snacking or having sweet drinks (pop, fruit juice,) throughout the day, there is not enough time for the mouth to neutralize, and it constantly is in the perfect condition for tooth decay to form.

A good rule of thumb is to finish off a meal or snack with water to flush the mouth and start the neutralization process.

Oral hygiene also plays an important role in potential for developing cavities. Make sure your child brushes his or her teeth after breakfast and before bed time. Children up to age 8 need assistance at least once a day with their tooth brushing and flossing.

A few of my child patients have admitted to me that they have a snack before bedtime after they have brushed their teeth. It is very important to brush after the snack and not to have any food in the mouth before bedtime. Night time is the time that the bacteria have a very high chance to grow, especially if they have food to feast on.

**Be sure to check out LULU Brush Time on our Kids page to help encourage your child to brush regularly.

Over the years of practice I have been asked many questions by my senior patients. The next issues will bring up some of these questions.

As a senior, do I really need to be concerned about cavities any more, All my teeth are already filled why would I get more cavities?

Actually as we age the environment in our mouth changes which make cavities more likely and frequent.

For example, the gums begin to recede in older adults, exposing the tooth root surface to decay. Dentin is much more susceptible to cavities.  New decay often occurs around the edges of older fillings as well.

Dry mouth, resulting from the natural aging process and certain medications and diseases, can lead to more tooth decay as well. Without an adequate amount of saliva, food particles can't be washed away and the acids produced by bacteria can't be neutralized.

Lowered dexterity in some older adults can be a cause for less effective tooth brushing which results in increased bacteria in the mouth. The more bad bacteria in the mouth the more risk for developing cavities.  This is all preventable.

Here are some tips to how to avoid cavities

•  Brush your teeth gently, at least twice a day, with fluoride toothpaste. Pay special attention to the gum line. If you have a hard time holding the toothbrush because of arthritis or another condition, try sliding a bicycle grip or foam tube over the handle.  Also consider purchasing electric toothbrushes because they are easier to use if you have problems with dexterity.

•  Floss or use interdental  brushes at least once every day, to clean between teeth. Interdental brushes come in different sizes and are available at most pharmacies. When choosing a brush size, be sure that it goes in and out between the teeth easily.

 •  Avoid frequent snacking on sugary or starchy foods. These foods feed the bacteria that cause tooth decay. This includes rice, potatoes, bread, fruits, and vegetables. It’s not the amount of carbs you eat that causes tooth decay, but the length of time your teeth are exposed to them. If you eat a lot of carbs for lunch, that’s one big exposure. But if you spend the day sipping sugary drinks, that’s continuous exposure -- and much more unhealthy for your teeth.

•  Rinse your mouth with water as often as possible, preferably after every meal.