Brushing helps remove food debris and plaque from your teeth, but it doesn't always remove food and bacteria from between them. Most cavities in adults form between the teeth. First, a little bit of science about cavities and how they develop. Every tooth has a custom layer of bacteria and microbes called a biofilm.
The biofilm turns into plaque and tartar if it builds up too much, and we keep its amount under control with good brushing and flossing. In a healthy mouth, it's a balanced mix of good bugs and bad bugs that live with us. However, when the biofilm gets out of balance, problems can develop, such as tooth decay. The behavior of the biofilm is driven by pH levels.
The lower the pH, the more acidic it is. In more acidic conditions, good bacteria don't do very well, but bad bacteria do well and take advantage of the situation. Bad bacteria multiply like crazy and, before we know it, they can outnumber good bacteria and create an unbalanced and unhealthy biofilm on our teeth. Have you had a tooth decay? Even if you brush your teeth twice a day every day, your dentist may find an area with cavities.
Find out why some people who brush their teeth regularly continue to have cavities and what you can do to prevent this problem.
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