You know who thinks about cavities, dentists! We see cavities all day long. We always hear that our patients always floss and brush and rinse. So why do they seem to get cavities each year?
Certain populations are more prone to cavities than others. A CDC report found that some ethnic groups have higher rates of untreated tooth decay than others. It’s more prevalent among African-Americans (46 percent) and Hispanics (36 percent), than Caucasians (22 percent) and Asians (17 percent). What’s causing the disparity?
“That’s the billion-dollar question,” Dye tells Yahoo Health. “We’ve been trying to tease out the source of the difference, but it’s a complex issue.” He explains that there are three overarching factors that contribute to oral health: biology, social conditions, and behavior.
One factor that can lead to a healthier mouth is what you eat. Kick the acidic foods and lead an overall healthy lifestyle and cavities will find a new mouth to hang out in.