I brush regularly and floss when I can.  Overall, I take very good care of my teeth.  But why do I still get cavities?

Answer:

A number of factors come into play when it comes to keeping your teeth clean.

Are You Brushing Correctly?

First off, though you brush your teeth often, are you brushing them correctly?  Make sure the bristles of your toothbrush reach every area on the tooth, including the back surface and especially the surface closest to the gumline, these are areas where bacteria usually build up.

Are You Flossing Correctly?

When you floss, do you guide the floss down below the gumline, following the curvature of the tooth?  Flossing takes more than just moving the strand between the teeth, be sure to see our article on flossing for more details.

Number of Cavities Can Be Hereditary!

And sadly, research has shown that an individual’s ability to get cavities is hereditary…that’s right, HEREDITARY!!!  So if your mother or father had a high number of cavities, than your risk of getting cavities is greatly increased.  It’s not inevitable, it just means that your mouth’s pH is more favorable to bacterial growth and development.  This means that you must take extra caution in your daily oral hygiene habits and the types of food that you consume.

Are You Eating the Right Foods?

Yet another factor that plays a large role in the development of cavities is diet.  Of course, if you have a diet that’s high in carbohydrates and sugars, you can expect more cavities.  So try to stay away from soda, candy, and a lot of bread on a regular basis.

Hope this helps and good luck!

My teeth bleed every time that I brush.  What should I do in this case?  And also, my mouth is hurt each time I use antiseptic to rinse.

Answer:

How often do you floss? From what you’re telling me you may have some minor inflammation on your gums. This often happens if you don’t floss regularly. Minor inflammation is called gingivitis and is usually easily cured if you start flossing more often or visit your dentist for a cleaning. If you continue not to floss, gingivitis can turn into periodontitis which can lead to a host of other problems including bone recession, loose teeth, etc.

Now remember when you start flossing you will definitely see bleeding. This goes away as you floss more often. Being that your gums are inflammed, your immune system is sensitive in that area and can easily become aggravated. However, you need to be able to clean away the bacteria below your gumline so please continue to floss.

Hope this helps

SaveMySmile Team

So why floss your teeth?

• Mouthwash and a toothbrush can’t reach every surface of your teeth! Flossing removes the food buildup and bacteria that is located between your teeth.
• Most cavities arise from bacteria located between the teeth – This area is often overlooked. Many feel that if they can’t see it, then it isn’t a problem. However, if given the chance, microscopic bacteria can and will accumulate and begin the demineralization process of enamel slowly leading to cavities, pain, and bacterial invasion.
• You don’t want bleeding gums do you? – Bleeding gums is a sign of inflammation! If you don’t floss regularly, you can expect some minor bleeding when you start out. But don’t quit. Bleeding gums indicates gingivitis, and even worse periodontitis. If severe enough, this will lead to recession of the gums and loose teeth. Flossing removes irritating bacteria from being allowed to infiltrate your gums and cause infection.

Proper steps to flossing

• Start off with a long strand of floss (around 15 inches or so) and wrap it around each middle finger
• Use your index finger to guide the floss between your teeth
• Once the strand of floss is between your teeth, follow the curvature of each tooth in an up and down motion about 2-3 times. Don’t be afraid to push the floss under the gums, this is a critical area that needs to be cleaned.
• Remove floss and repeat with each tooth, making sure to use a clean section of the floss each time.

How often should I floss?

It’s best to floss a minimum of once a day

I tried to floss and my gums started bleeding, should I stop?  Is something wrong?

Do not stop.  This is a sign of inflammation and indicates that you haven’t flossed in awhile.  Continue to floss everyday and the bleeding will stop.

Have more questions?  Feel free to leave a commit or submit a question to be included in our FAQ’s.

Happy Flossing!