Caries doesn’t just cause sugar. Louise Avtandilyan, a dentist and founder of the Smilestudio clinic, told socialbites.ca five non-obvious causes of dental caries.
According to Avtandilyan, nervous tension can cause bruises. “Long-term emotional stress adversely affects the condition of the teeth: during a nervous shock, the chemical composition of the “stress hormone” – cortisol – of saliva, which performs the protective function of the teeth, changes. As a result, the balance in the oral cavity is disturbed and bacterial growth increases, which leads to demineralization of tooth enamel and the development of caries.
The dentist noted that not only stress, but also lack of sleep leads to caries. “Those who suffer from chronic insomnia or who work at night, who avoid coffee and sandwiches, are at increased risk of cavities. The thing is, saliva production at night slows down in the same way as digestive processes. “Due to the deterioration of saliva at night, teeth are more susceptible to the harmful effects of acids formed during night snacking,” he said.
According to Avtandilyan, excessive consumption of certain products besides sugar is fraught with cavities.
Another non-obvious reason for the destruction of the hard tissues of the teeth is improper occlusion. “Due to the incorrect position of the jaw, the load on individual dental units increases. Thus, the wear of the tooth enamel increases, its sensitivity and susceptibility to carious lesions increase. In addition, the crowding of the teeth interferes with thorough oral hygiene, which leads to the development of bacteria in the oral cavity and the process of pathological destruction of tooth enamel. triggers,” stressed the dentist.
The presence of caries may also indicate xerostomia – dry mouth. “Insufficient saliva weakens the function of tooth enamel and leads to a buildup of bacteria on its surface,” Avtandilyan added.