What makes a cavity

These bacteria then create acids which can eat away at the enamel on your teeth causing mineral loss and eventually a cavity. Now that you know what causes cavities, how do you prevent them? Preventing cavities can be easy when you maintain a good oral hygiene routine of brushing, flossing and rinsing each and every day.

You should also visit a dentist regularly, preferably at least twice a year. Stage 3. Stage 4. Stages of Tooth Decay Stage 1: A white or brown spot on the tooth's surface may be a sign of early decay. Brushing with a fluoride toothpaste and flossing may prevent it from becoming a cavity. Stage 2: The decay has gone through the tooth's hard enamel surface layer.

Stage 3: Now that the cavity has gone through the enamel to the softer layer of the tooth, it will get destroy the tooth structure more quickly as the layers of tooth beneath the enamel are not as hard. Stage 4: If the cavity is not filled, it can cause bigger problems deeper in the tooth.

This is why it's important to see your dental team regularly. Floss daily to remove plaque between teeth. The result is called a filling.

Does it hurt? Sometimes it does, but your dentist can give you an anesthetic say: an-es-THET-ick. That's a kind of medicine that will numb the area around the problem tooth while you're getting your new filling.

Reviewed by: KidsHealth Medical Experts. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. Page 1 Cavity Prevention Tips Though cavities can be repaired, try to avoid them by taking care of your teeth. Here's how: Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste after every meal or at least twice a day.

Bedtime is an important time to brush.