By the time you brush your teeth the damage has already been done.  When a person eats, the bacteria or biofilm, that is present on the teeth will break down your food and create an acidic environment.  This will cause a loss of tooth minerals.  If calcium, phosphate, and fluoride aren’t available around the tooth and in the saliva to replace the lost minerals, the result is a cavity.  If this cavity remains in the outer layer of the tooth, which is called enamel, then remineralizing the tooth may reverse the cavity.  If the cavity is allowed to progress to the inner layer of the tooth, called dentin, then the cavity is not reversible and it must then be removed by a dental hand piece (drill)  and filled.

This loss of minerals happens within 15-20 minutes of eating or drinking. Likely, the next time you brush your teeth will be right before bedtime.  Therefore, the damage is already done.  The best strategy to combat this would be to brush and floss immediately before eating and drinking so the amount of bacteria present is limited, or to brush immediately after eating and drinking. You may also chew sugarless gum containing Xylitol for 15-20 minutes after eating if brushing your teeth right away isn’t convenient.  Xylitol has been shown to help prevent cavities.

Still, this may not be enough. Many of our patients have great oral hygiene but still develop cavities. Why? The answer depends upon the individual. To determine if you're at risk for tooth decay, or why you're prone to getting cavities, request an appointment Appointment Request for a personalized, complimentary Risk Assessment.  This assessment will determine your level of risk and different options to reduce that risk.