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Tooth Decay Causes: Shocking, However True
While most people don’t look forward to going to the dentist. But they know that if they don’t take care of their teeth and don’t go to the dentist regularly, their teeth will just get worse and worse to the point they will need extensive dental work. Whether you enjoy going to the dentist or you don’t, you should always remember about tooth decay causes and make time to maintain the health of your gums and teeth.
What are the Major Tooth Decay Causes?
The two major tooth decay causes are high sugar and starch intake and bacteria in your mouth if you are not keeping your mouth maintained properly. When you don’t take care of the cleanliness of your mouth, the regular bacteria that is already there — and unavoidable — combines with your saliva and any pieces of food that are caught in the crevices of the teeth. This substance is invisible to the eye, but it’s sticky and is called plaque. After a couple of days, it gets hard and becomes tartar.
Cavities develop in your mouth when the tartar and plaque join forces and the sugar turns into acid. The acid is what will eventually wear away at the surface of the teeth until it creates a hole.
What Medications Can Cause Teeth to Decay?
About 70 percent of the people in this country take prescription medication. Besides the medications listed below, just about any prescription can leave you with a dry mouth. This condition can cause infections because it irritates most of the soft tissues that are in your mouth. When your mouth is constantly lubricated with saliva, it is less at risk for tooth decay.
Here are the five most popular types of medications that could be causing your teeth to decay.
- Medications for pain.Prescription pain medications can leave you with dry mouth as well as periodontal disease and tooth loss. They can eat away at the enamel on your teeth, and if you use aspirin, it can cause your gums to bleed.
- Antacids.While antacids can cut down on the acid in your mouth, these meds can also weaken your teeth and contribute to tooth decay. Also, watch out for chewable antacids because they get stuck between your teeth and cause cavities.
- Prescriptions for blood pressure. All of the medications used to treat blood pressure leave users with a dry mouth. They may also cause gums to swell up, and it becomes more difficult to brush them properly. In addition, they could be the cause for a build-up in plaque.
- Decongestants and antihistamines. Because these types of medications reduce the amount of saliva in the mouth, they are responsible for the erosion of teeth, cavities, and discoloration of the teeth.
- Antidepressants. Many types of antidepressants have been found to be among rampant tooth decay causes as they affect the health of the bones in your mouth. Other side effects include yeast infections in the mouth, gum disease, implant failure, and bad breath.
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