Tooth Decay: Alternative Reasons For Your Damaged Teeth

When you have tooth decay, the cause of your problem may not be poor oral care. In some cases, the problem stems from a larger issue, so you need to know what factors may be affecting the enamel in your mouth.

Genetic Disorder

Even if your brush and floss daily, you may still develop cavities. If you have spent a good portion of your life dealing with tooth decay, you should consult your dentist about genetic dental disorders. You may have a genetic disorder that has caused improper development of enamel or dentin, which leads to an abundant amount of decay.

Dentinogenesis imperfecta is one such disorder that causes weak enamel, discoloration and tooth breakage. This condition comes in several forms, and it affects 1 out of every 6,000-8,000 people.

Amelogenesis imperfecta is another condition that can cause some teeth to be too small and prone to breakage. There are 14 different types of this disorder and each one has their own characteristics. On average, 1 in about 14,000 people has this condition in the United States.

To determine if your problem is being caused by a specific condition, you need a full dental exam. The dentist will evaluate your teeth and gums to see if you have a condition. Luckily, if a disorder is found to be the problem, the dentist can work with you to repair the decay and they can possibly help you to prevent further decay.

External Factors

External factors can also affect your enamel. In many cases, these factors can damage the enamel or weaken it, so you need to be aware of how your actions can harm your teeth.

Daily oral hygiene is necessary, but being overly aggressive with a toothbrush can also cause problems. When you brush your teeth too hard, the abrasiveness of the bristles can start to scrape off small enamel particles. The longer you do this the more damage you can do to your teeth.

The food you do not eat can also cause dental issues because if you are lacking certain minerals and vitamins, your enamel cannot stay strong and it may break. With this in mind, you need to make sure you have a balanced diet that will help promote healthy teeth and gums. For example, your diet should have calcium-rich foods like dairy products and you need vitamins K and D to help promote strong teeth as well.

Dealing with tooth decay on a regular basis does not mean you are practicing poor oral hygiene. In some cases, your genetics or diet can be the cause of the problem. It is always a good idea to work with a dentist to find the cause of your tooth decay so that you can fix the issue and prevent further damage. For more information, talk to someone at your local dental clinic today.