What You Should Know About Cavities

Although they’re the most wide-spread chronic disease among children and adults alike, cavities are surrounded by myths and misconceptions that can mislead patients about the nature of their condition. Tooth decay describes a bacterial infection in your tooth’s main structure, and as it spreads, the infection eats away at the tooth, causing holes (cavities) to form. Reno dentists, Dr. Wager and Dr. Evans, believe accurate knowledge is vital to good dental health care, and expose some of the myths about cavities to help you understand how it develops and how to defeat it.

The Myths (and the Truths Behind Them)

Cavities are caused by sugar

Though not entirely untrue, sugar isn’t the main cause of cavity development. Sugar and other carbohydrates feed certain oral bacteria that convert the nutrients into acid. Over time, repeated exposure to such acid weakens tooth enamel, eventually rendering it useless against infectious, cavity-causing bacteria.

Children are more likely to develop cavities

Cavities can affect patients of all ages. In fact, the condition affects over 90% of adults over the age of 60, compared to about half of all school-aged children in the United States. With preventive measures like fluoride treatments and dental sealants, Dr. Wager and Dr. Evans can help significantly reduce your child’s risk of cavities, as well as your own.

Placing an aspirin on your cavity will relieve the toothache

Swallowing one or two aspirin can work wonders helping some patients find relief from a toothache. Contrary to the belief of some, though, breaking and spreading the aspirin over the tooth does not offer pain relief. The acidity of the pill can damage sensitive gum tissue, increase your discomfort, and further harm your tooth.

All dental fillings need replacement at some point

A dental filling describes a manmade material used to reinforce a tooth after the cavity is cleaned. If the tooth suffers damage, or if it fails and a cavity forms around it, then the dental filling will need replacement as soon as possible. However, with excellent dental hygiene, care, and maintenance, dental fillings can last a lifetime. To improve the longevity and effectiveness of our patients’ dental fillings, Dr. Wager and Dr. Evans typically use tooth-colored composite resin rather than metal fillings.

About Your Reno Dentists:

Dr. William Wager, Dr. Brian Evans, and our highly experienced team at Wager Evans Dental are devoted to our patients and their families, and dedicated to providing first-rate dental care in a comfortable, inviting environment. Located in Reno, we proudly welcome residents from Spanish Springs, Sparks, Incline Village, Dayton, Fernley, and all surrounding communities. To schedule a consultation or your next dental appointment, visit our office, or contact us today by calling (775) 800-4845.