Common Misconceptions About Dental Cavities

There are very few people who can say they’ve never had a dental cavity. In fact, around 90% of the human population will have at least one cavity during their life. Even if you’ve had dental cavities in the past, you may not know how cavities develop, how dentists treat them, and how to avoid dental cavities altogether.

Misconceptions About Dental Cavities

Below are a few of the most common myths and misconceptions regarding dental cavities and the truth behind them:

• Cavities will start to hurt right away – This is a myth; in reality, the early stages of dental cavities are painless and may have no symptoms at all. This is why regular dental checkups are so important, as your dentist can catch a cavity before you even know it’s there. If you wait until you feel pain, the dental cavity has reached the pulp of the tooth, which can cause an infection.
• Sensitive teeth point to a dental cavity – One of the many reasons for tooth sensitivity may be a dental cavity, but there are a variety of reasons for tooth sensitivity. These can include brushing too hard, the use of tooth whitening products, or even gum recession.
• Kids get more dental cavities than adults – There has actually been a decrease in childhood dental cavities, which probably has a lot to do with fluoridated water and better pediatric dental treatment. Many adults can develop dental cavities as a result of poor dental hygiene or even medication that causes dry mouth.
• Baby teeth cavities can be ignored – Lastly, even though baby teeth do eventually fall out, it’s still vitally important that baby teeth with cavities be treated. Not only to protect the structure of your child’s mouth but also to save your child the pain of an untreated dental cavity that can progress into something worse.

If a dental cavity goes untreated for long enough, it could worsen and lead to a tooth infection or gum disease. If you’re concerned about your gum health and would like to make an appointment here at Coastal Periodontics, please contact our Portsmouth, New Hampshire periodontics office today.