Dental Cambra in Monarch Beach – Risk Factors for Dental Caries
Dental caries, which are essentially “cavities,” is a serious form of
decay that can damage the structure and integrity of your teeth. In
some cases, it can be so severe that a filling will not be able to save
the tooth, and it must be entirely extracted in order to save the other
teeth from becoming affected as well.
Getting dental caries can be due to a number of various factors.
While many understand that poor dental hygiene can be the main factor of
getting dental caries, this is not the only reason why someone could
experience such problems with their teeth. In fact, there are
individuals that strictly follow their dentist’s instructions on
avoiding cavities and tooth decay that still suffer from dental caries.
First off, poor dental hygiene is a reason why someone may develop
dental caries, but is not the ONLY reason someone might experience
them. A poor diet, one that is high in sugar and acidic foods, can
cause someone to be at a higher risk for dental caries because it
changes the pH levels of their saliva. Saliva tests done during a
CAMBRA (Caries Management by Risk Assessment) evaluation can determine
if a patient has high pH levels which can increase their likelihood of
developing dental caries. Also, a lack of saliva could be a reason for
dental caries increasing, such as dry mouth, otherwise known as
“xerostomia.” Other reasons include medications that can change your
saliva pH levels, and an increase in certain bacterias such as
streptococcus mutans and lactobacillus.
With one visit to Dr. Cruz, you will be able to undergo a CAMBRA
evaluation and find out if you are at a higher risk for dental caries
than others. One call and one appointment can help determine the health
of your teeth and the future of your dental hygiene!
