Many professionals in dentistry find cavities in the mouths of their adult patients. When the cosmetic dentist informs their patient of the problem, many adults are surprised. While cavities are commonly thought of as a childhood problem, adults get them too. They happen in adults for a different reason than children, however.

Decay In Childhood

Because children have additional nutritional needs due to their growth and development, foods and drinks such as milk, formula, and juice make up large portions of their diet. Many of them often fall asleep with these harmful liquid in their mouths. The sugars and nutrients in these substances sit directly on their teeth and gums causing cavities. In children, a decaying tooth will appear darker than the rest, or it will look like a white line or spot on their teeth.

In pediatric dentistry, these childhood cavities are sometimes left alone. This occurs mostly when the cavity is in a child's baby tooth that will be falling out shortly. Teeth that the child will have longer, such as molars, are generally filled to prevent the child from experiencing pain and discomfort. If the decay spreads too far to save the tooth, it will have to be removed. To keep the space open for the adult tooth to come in underneath, a 'spacer' is placed between the remaining teeth.

Adult Decay

All cavities, regardless of age, are formed when the sugars in the food we eat mixes with the bacteria in our mouths. This creates an acid that attacks the enamel on our teeth. The cosmetic dentist doesn't see decay caused by milks and juices in adults. The reality is two main triggers cause adult tooth decay. One of the most common causes of adult cavities is existing fillings. Because they are never completely flush with your natural teeth, the bacteria and food sits along the outside of the filling and is difficult to remove. It also occurs with the loosening or breakage of a filling giving food direct access to the dentin in your teeth.

Another reason adults get cavities is the gums moving away from the teeth. This occurs naturally with age, but harsh brushing also causes gums to recede from the teeth. Either way, the food attacks the soft root and it decays quickly without the protection of the gums and enamel. It forms what is known as a root cavity in dentistry.

Possible Solutions

The cosmetic dentist will work with you to prevent and detect cavities before they become painful by checking the status of your fillings. The dentistry expert will also look for signs of existing decay by checking for any brown or black areas on your teeth. If he or she finds any evidence of decay, an x-ray will tell the oral care expert what the extent of the damage is.

If it is just beginning and there is very little damage, the cosmetic dentist may leave it to see how it goes, or the decay will be removed from the tooth by drilling. The last step is to fill the tooth to protect its delicate pulp and sensitive nerve.

It doesn't matter whether you see a cosmetic dentist in Orange County or Orlando, regular checkups are the only way to catch cavities before they have spread too far. At that point, the dentistry expert will be forced to pull and replace the affected tooth. Both adults and children can get cavities, but unlike children, adults don't have an adult tooth waiting to erupt in its place.