Independence Family and Cosmetic Dentistry
CAVITY PREVENTION
Cavity Risks and Prevention in Independence, MO
Dry Mouth, Sugar Exposure, and Xylitol
While there are several different factors that can increase your risks of cavities, sugar is perhaps one of the most notorious. There are several different mechanisms to help prevent cavities, your saliva is one of the most consistently effective. Sometimes, preserving your smile means understanding the complications of dry mouth, which describes a lack of inadequate saliva production, and how it can boost the ability of sugar and other substances to cause cavities.
Complications of Dry Mouth
Cavities, or holes in your teeth, develop and grow due to an infection known as tooth decay. It originates with the bacteria that live in your dental plaque. Your saliva, made almost entirely of water, is one of your mouth’s main lines of defense against bacteria and the acids that they produce to weaken your teeth.
Dry mouth, or xerostomia, means your salivary glands are not producing enough saliva, and it can allow oral bacteria a greater chance of multiplying and destroying your teeth’s protective enamel. Common causes of dry mouth can include;
The Connection Between Saliva, Sugar, and Cavities
How is dry mouth connected to sugar and cavities, you may wonder? Some of the bacteria found in dental plaque, namely the microbe Streptococcus mutans, are responsible for converting sugar and other carbohydrates into teeth-attacking acids. Without enough saliva to wash them away, S. mutans can flourish in the environment created by dry mouth, producing exponentially more acids every time you eat or drink something.
Independence Family and Cosmetic Dentistry
What is Xylitol?
Besides saliva deficiency, inadequate hygiene and irresponsible sugar consumption can also increase your cavity risks by bolstering S. mutans and other harmful oral bacteria. In addition to improved hygiene, we may recommend cutting down on your sugar intake to deprive the bacteria of fuel.
Xylitol, a naturally-occurring sweetener found in the bark of birch trees, raspberries, and other natural sources, is a popular sugar-substitute that actively helps prevent cavity formation. The sweetener inhibits S. mutans’ ability to cling to your teeth and form plaque, making it more difficult for the bacteria to become strong enough to threaten your teeth.
Contact Us
At Independence Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Scott Roberson offers expert dental care for your entire family, including cosmetic, restorative, and preventive services. Many other preventive services and treatments are part of different care plans to stop sensitivity, decay rates, and dry mouth problems.
If you have any questions about dental insurance or other payment options, please call our office at 816-350-0808.
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