Cavities and Tooth Decay

What Is Tooth Decay?

Tooth decay is caused by a variety of things; in medical terms, cavities are called caries, which are caused by long-term destructive forces acting on tooth structures such as enamel and the tooth's inner dentin material.

These destructive forces include frequent exposure to foods rich in sugar and carbohydrates. Soda, candy, ice cream—even milk—are common culprits.  Left inside your mouth from non-brushing and flossing, these materials break down quickly, allowing bacteria to do their dirty work in the form of a harmful, colorless sticky substance called plaque.

The plaque works in concert with leftover food particles in your mouth to form harmful acids that destroy enamel and other tooth structures.

If cavities aren't treated early enough, they can lead to more serious problems requiring treatments such as root canal therapy.

Preventing Cavities

The best defense against cavities is good oral hygiene, including brushing with a fluoride toothpaste, flossing and rinsing. Your body's own saliva is also an excellent cavity fighter, because it contains special chemicals that rinse away many harmful materials. Chewing a good sugarless gum will stimulate saliva production between brushing.

Special sealants and varnishes can also be applied to stave off cavities from forming.

If you have any of the following symptoms, you may have a cavity:

  • Unusual sensitivity to hot and cold water or foods.
  • A localized pain in your tooth or near the gum line.
  • Teeth that change color.

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Baby bottle tooth decay is caused by sugary substances in breast milk and some juices, which combine with saliva to form pools inside the baby's mouth.

If left untreated, this can lead to premature decay of your baby's future primary teeth, which can later hamper the proper formation of permanent teeth.

One of the best ways to avoid baby bottle tooth decay is to not allow your baby to nurse on a bottle while going to sleep. Encouraging your toddler to drink from a cup as early as possible will also help stave off the problems associated with baby bottle tooth decay.

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Primary Location

Monday:

Closed

Tuesday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Wednesday:

10:00 am-7:00 pm

Thursday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Friday:

9:00 am-3:00 pm

Saturday:

8:00 am-2:00 pm

Sunday:

Closed

Testimonials

    I just have to say that dr. moskowitz is an excellent dentist and the entire staff at healthy smiles is first rate. dr. moskowitz is an ultimate professional , using the most up to date equipment and catering to all of the patient's needs. also, janet, the dental assistant and michelle, the hygienist, are also first rate, making a trip to healthy smiles an ultimately rewarding experience. having moved around a lot i have had to experience many dentists. without a doubt dr, moskowitz and the staff at healthy smiles are by far the best.

    Marty2002

    I've been to many dentist over the years but dr m is by far the best i've seen. he truly cares about his patients and tries to make them as comfortable as possible. his staff, especially janet, are top shelf and also follow his lead as a dentist that cares. if your looking for a factory style dentist, hes not for you, but if want personal and caring service i highly recommend this practice.

    PitBill

    I have been going to healthy smiles for many years and cannot praise it enough. the entire staff(dr. moskowitz,janet, michelle, marge, robin and deanna) are all highly professional and extremely friendly. every time that i have been there i've been treated with first rate care as well as professional courtesy. i recently had to have a new bridge. i have gagging reflux issues and was very concerned about going through this extensive procedure. my fears ended up being totally unfounded. dr. moskowitz and janet both did an excellent job, showing compassion and helping me every step of the way. they are all truly tops in their field.

    Irish55