What Causes Tooth Decay?

It is always painful every time we have a tooth decay. Have you ever wondered how cavities can happen? What are the actual causes for tooth decay?

1. Poor oral hygiene

Poor oral hygiene is not just about not brushing your teeth regularly, it includes not flossing, brushing your tongue, and not using mouthwash. The best way is to brush your teeth at least twice a day, after meals, and brushing your teeth for at least 2 minutes each time. If you spend more time taking care of your oral hygiene, your teeth will stay healthy and prevent tooth decays from developing.

2. Accumulated plaque

If you don’t clean your teeth well enough, over time, the plaque that has been accumulating on your teeth will become acidic and destroy your tooth enamel which causes a hole inside the tooth, commonly known as “cavity” or “tooth decay”. 

3. Too much sweets

The bacteria in your mouth can come from eating too much sweets. These sugars are acidic that also destroy your tooth enamel. So if you have been consuming too much sweet foods or snacks, you should brush your teeth after eating to reduce acidity.

4. Acidic foods and beverages

When we think of the word “acid”, we think of “soda” or “soft drink.” But in reality, the common foods that we eat every day including spicy foods, such as papaya salad that has a sour flavor, already contain acid in itself, and is one of the causes of tooth decay.

5. Dry mouth

Because saliva helps inhibit the growth of plaque, those who have dry mouths will often develop tooth decay as well. This is mainly due to the medication prescribed by the doctor, or is caused by genetics, or congenital diseases such as diabetes. The solution is to inform the dentist before receiving treatment to find out how to prevent tooth decay from dry mouth problems.

Now that you are aware of the causes for tooth decay, you should definitely take good care of your oral hygiene! This includes going to the dentist every 6 months for a dental check up.

If you would like to talk to us about your problems concerning tooth decay, please contact us at contact@smileboxclinic.com and our staff will get back to you as soon as possible, or simply call us at +66 94-975-9666.