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Being detailed with brushing, flossing, and rinsing can help you avoid cavities and the need for dental fillings. However, it can be helpful to know which teeth and places on the teeth are the most prone to developing cavities to ensure you’re focusing on the right areas. Here are the five most common places we all get cavities and what you can do to reduce your risk.
In the Grooves of Molars
Your back molars are the most prone to developing cavities than any other teeth in your mouth. The chewing surfaces on your back teeth are deeply grooved, which is essential for adequately chewing food. However, you may have trouble reaching your back teeth and getting the bristles of your toothbrush into each groove. As a result, food particles are frequently left behind, leading to tooth decay.
In Between Your Teeth
In a typical mouth, all teeth touch each other except for the teeth in the far back. In the areas between your teeth, it is difficult to fit a toothbrush into these cracks for a complete clean. This results in plaque quickly growing in between the teeth that leads to cavity development. For this reason alone, it is essential to floss daily, so these areas are being cleaned.
At or Just Below the Gum line
Food particles, plaque, and tartar tend to collect along the gum line. This can be especially true for those who drink a lot of energy drinks or soda because the acids in these drinks can pool around the gum line and attack the teeth. If the gum line is not thoroughly cleaned with regular brushing, you could very easily find yourself with a cavity at or just below the gum line. Always brush along your gum line at both the front and the back of your teeth. Angling the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle towards your gums will help you avoid cavities in these areas.
In the Roots of a Tooth
If you have deep pockets between your teeth, it can be easy to develop cavities in the roots of the teeth. Deep pockets typically mean that you have some degree of periodontal disease that has developed. The only way to clean deep pockets and manage periodontal disease is to schedule regular dental visits every three to four months to manage the condition. Scheduling routine exams reduce your risk of developing future tooth root cavities.
Around Previous Dental Work
If you have had previous cavities, bridges, root canals, or other types of restorative dental work, these areas of the natural tooth around the dental work are susceptible to developing cavities. Cavities and the presence of dental work often creates an uneven surface where food particles, plaque, and bacteria can collect because these areas aren’t always as smooth as we’d like them to be. It’s essential to brush thoroughly around any of these areas while cleaning to reduce your risk of developing cavities around previous dental work.
How To Reduce Your Risk of Tooth Decay In Certain Teeth
Reducing your risk of cavities starts with proper at-home oral hygiene. Brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing once a day, and incorporating a fluoride mouthwash on a daily basis will all help to reduce your risk of tooth decay. In addition to good at-home care, scheduling dental checkups and teeth cleanings twice a year is essential. These checkups are the best way to catch the beginning stages of gum disease and tooth decay, while issues are still minor and easily corrected.
Call Aubrey Baudean DDS today to schedule your next dental checkup and teeth cleaning. At your appointment, we can discuss with you which of your teeth are most likely to develop tooth decay, and what you can do at home to prevent cavities from forming.
