What are cavities?
Our teeth are protected by a translucent substance called enamel. The bacteria that survive in our mouths and the acidic substances in food damage the teeth, resulting in holes or corrosion. Cavities are a common disease that can develop in children and the elderly, regardless of age. This is because children enjoy diets high in carbohydrates and sugar, which cause tooth decay. The gums of the elderly degrade as they age, and tooth degradation develops quickly. We will experience toothache if we have cavities in our teeth. If you continue to have this problem without repairing the cavities, the region of cavities can enlarge, affecting additional teeth. Furthermore, we should see the dentist on a regular basis to maintain our oral health because it can lead to significant disorders like infection and toothache (Burch, 2021).
What’s the relationship between cavities and candy?
We know from an early age that eating a lot of candy will lead to cavities. Bacteria that live in our mouths survive by eating the food that remains in our mouths. Bacteria usually eat foods containing carbohydrates and sugar and secrete acids and lactic acid. Candy is a beloved food for young children because it contains sugar, which makes us feel sweet when we consume it. If we do not brush our teeth after eating this candy, bacteria in our mouth consume the sugar in the candy and make acid, causing corrosion of the enamel layer on the surface of our teeth. To put it another way, when the enamel layer corrodes, our teeth become damaged, confused, or perforated. As a result, we should clean our teeth after consuming sugary foods to remove the acid created by bacteria and prevent the enamel layer from corroding (Zauberman, 2022).
Why are we afraid of dentistry?
Cavities are difficult to detect in the early stages since they do not produce discomfort. As a result, we must find cavities early during routine exams and treat them as soon as feasible. Ordinary folks, on the other hand, do not undergo frequent exams because they are terrified of dentistry. People are frequently terrified of going to the dentist because they overestimate the agony they experienced as children. There are a few people that are terrified of dentophobia. We will be unable to treat early cavities and other dental disorders if we skip frequent dental checks out of fear, and the condition will worsen. Furthermore, because medical technology has evolved, painkillers and anesthesia can be used to undergo medical treatment while feeling no discomfort. In other words, we must maintain our oral health by getting regular dental exams and employing techniques to reduce dental anxiety (Cherney, 2020).
What should we do for dental health?
Cavities are a common disease that can occur at all ages but are easily prevented. We have to brush our teeth three times a day for more than three minutes. In addition, we should brush not only our teeth but also our gums for their health. Brushing too hard can damage the enamel layer on the surface of our gums and teeth, so you should brush the right way. And since there is a high possibility that food that has not been removed with a toothbrush remains, we should keep our teeth clean using dental floss (Berry, 2019). In particular, in order to prevent tooth decay, we should refrain from eating sweet foods that cause tooth decay, so we should eat candy containing xylitol that helps our teeth rather than regular candy. In the case of candy containing xylitol, it provides us with a sweet taste, but it also controls the activity of bacteria and removes minerals from the surface of the teeth, helping to make the teeth harder and healthier. In other words, we must maintain dental health through this method (Skvorak, 2017).
Conclusion
Cavities are a common condition for everyone, regardless of age. In particular, it occurs a lot in young children who like candy because the sugar contained in it induces cavities. There are also people who feel afraid of dentistry and do not have regular checkups because of their fear. However, cavities are a difficult disease to develop in the early stages, so we need to maintain healthy teeth through regular checkups.
References
Berry, J. (2019). The 8 best practices for healthy teeth and gums. [online] www.medicalnewstoday.com. Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324708#use-fluoride [Accessed 31 March 2023].
Burch, K. (2021). What Is a Cavity? Causes, Treatment, and Prevention. [online] Verywell Health. Available at: https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-a-cavity-causes-treatment-prevention-5088575 [Accessed 31 March 2023].
Cherney, K. (2020). Fear of the Dentist: How to Cope with Dentophobia. [online] Healthline. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/fear-of-dentist#takeaway [Accessed 31 March 2023].
Skvorak, J. (2017). Treat Your Sweet Tooth with Xylitol! [online] peartreedentistry. Available at: https://www.peartreedentistry.com/post/2017/07/31/treat-your-sweet-tooth-with-xylitol [Accessed 31 March 2023].
Zauberman, A. (2022). Does Candy Cause Tooth Cavities? [online] Davidson Institute of Science Education. Available at: https://davidson.weizmann.ac.il/en/online/askexpert/does-candy-cause-tooth-cavities [Accessed 31 March 2023].
