Do oranges cause cavities?
By
Dr Shivam Jha
This blog post will address the topic, “do oranges cause cavities” and cover topics like foods that provide best protection against cavities, foods that increase your risk of developing cavities, if you can still get cavities without eating sugar, what a cavity is, stages of a cavity formation and ways to heal dental cavities naturally.
Do Oranges Cause Cavities?
Yes, oranges may cause cavities due to its high acidic content that results in enamel demineralization, leading to enamel weakening and making it more susceptible to bacterial attack and cavity formation.
Citrus fruits like oranges are a rich source of vitamin C but they also contain high amounts of acid which is a risk factor for cavity formation.
You should mix them while taking food and must not forget to rinse carefully afterwards.
Brushing your teeth just after eating oranges may erode the enamel, resulting in small pores and high risk of cavity formation.
Foods That Provide Best Protection Against Cavities
Calcium Rich Foods
Calcium plays an important role in enamel remineralization and saliva production.
The remineralization process is essential for the cavity to reverse naturally.
Optimal saliva production acts as a natural cleanser and prevents plaque accumulation and acts as an adjunct in the process of healing cavity naturally.
All thanks to calcium rich foods like cauliflower, nuts, salmons and figs.
Magnesium Rich Foods
Magnesium is essential for remineralization of the enamel as well as to maintain a balance of minerals like calcium and phosphorus.
Magnesium deficiency will lead to enamel demineralization and weakening of the enamel, halting the natural healing of the cavity.
Leafy green vegetables, avocado and squash seeds are some magnesium rich foods that you can consider.
Phosphorus Rich Foods
Foods like meat, eggs and dairy products are rich in phosphorus and help in naturally healing the cavity in its earliest stage.
Vitamin D Rich Foods
Vitamin D is essential for calcium and phosphorus absorption in the body and its deficiency eventually wastes the calcium you intake.
Spending a few minutes in the morning sun gives an adequate amount of vitamin D to the body. However, foods like fish and egg yolks are rich vitamin D sources.
Vitamin D And Cavity Prevention: What Research Says?
According to research, children with vitamin D deficiency had an increased risk of developing enamel defects and tooth fracture.
Another clinical trial reported vitamin D to be a prominent agent for caries prevention.
Study published in the journal of dental research, concluded that vitamin D is essential for lowering the risk of developing caries in children.
Foods That Increases Your Risk Of Developing Cavities
Sugar
Sugar and sugar-rich foods and drinks are extremely harmful for your oral health as well as for your overall health.
Sugar allows plaque bacteria to grow faster and significantly contributes to cavity development and tooth decay.
A research study concluded that consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages on a regular basis increases the chances of having dental caries.
Another study reported that all sugars can be fermented by the oral bacteria and are therefore a potential cause of cavities and tooth decay.
Cold Drinks Or Carbonated Drinks
Carbonated drinks are highly acidic and contain a very high amount of sugar, resulting in increased risk of developing cavities.
The high acid content in these carbonated drinks create small pores on the tooth enamel and results in increased susceptibility to cavity-causing microorganisms.
Brushing teeth immediately after drinking carbonated drinks erodes the enamel, weakens it and increases the risk of cavity formation.
White Bread
White bread is broken down to starch and finally to sugar in the mouth. It may stick in the pits and fissures on the tooth surface or in the gaps between teeth, causing bacterial attack and cavity formation.
Whole-wheat brown bread must be preferred over white bread.
Alcohol And Smoking
Alcohol dehydrates you and causes your mouth to go dry. Dry mouth is a breeding ground for all cavity forming bacteria and your chances of forming dental cavities increases multifold.
Smoking also causes dryness in the mouth leading to increased risk of dental cavities or decay.
Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits are a rich source of vitamin C but they also contain high amounts of acid which is a risk factor for cavity formation.
You should mix them while taking food and must not forget to rinse carefully afterwards.
Sticky Foods Like Raisins
Sticky foods are worst for your teeth and a significant contributor to cavities.
While eating they stick to cervices present on your tooth surface and are difficult to remove. Cavity-causing bacteria accumulate, release acids, weakens enamel and forms cavities.
Can you still get cavities if you don’t eat sugar?
Yes, you can still get cavities even if you don’t eat sugar. The other reasons for you getting cavities are poor oral hygiene, regular brushing after eating acidic foods and drinks and bacterial attack on remnants of food debris stuck in between the teeth and gums.
Apart from sugar, foods rich in starch and carbohydrates also contribute equally to cavities formation. Foods and drinks that are rich in acid weaken the enamel by creating pores in them if consumed on a regular basis.
Brushing after eating and drinking acidic foods and drinks, may lead to cavity formation and tooth decay.
What Is A Dental Cavity?
Dental Cavity or tooth cavity, is a hole that develops on the surface of the tooth due to loss of mineral content from the enamel, resulting from the repeated acid attack by the plaque bacteria.
Stages Of A Cavity Formation
Consumption of sugary and starch rich foods expose the tooth to acids frequently, resulting in mineral loss from the enamel.
Infrequent tooth brushing habits cause poor oral hygiene, resulting in plaque accumulation.
Plaque is a sticky film containing bacteria that coats the protective enamel of your teeth. These bacteria produce acids by breaking down the food debris and the acids penetrate the enamel leading to formation of white spots on the teeth.
The cavity formation takes place in 5 stages:
STAGE 1: WHITE SPOTS
- Appearance of the white spots on the surface of the tooth as the mineral loss begins from enamel due to bacterial acid attack.
- This stage can be reversed with preventive actions and maintaining good oral hygiene.
STAGE 2: DECAYED ENAMEL
- If the white spots are ignored and no preventive actions are initiated, the repeated acid attacks wear down the mineral and enamel is decayed
- Visible hole is seen and now the cavity becomes irreversible.
STAGE 3: DENTIN INVOLVEMENT
- The decay moves down further and attacks the inner soft dentin
- This is called as Advanced Cavity Stage
- Slight pain and sensitivity starts
STAGE 4: PULP AND PAIN
- In this stage, the decay finally reaches the pulp and irritates the nerves
- Pain, sometimes excruciating, Sensitivity and Discomfort is seen in this stage.
- Root Canal is the only treatment option other than extraction.
STAGE 5: TOOTH ABSCESS
- After pulp involvement, if treatment is not initiated, the infection spreads to the surrounding structures of the tooth and inflammation is caused
- Extreme pain and even tooth loss may result
Ways To Heal Dental Cavities Naturally
If the cavity is just in its initial stage where the white spot is visible on the tooth, it is the time to take preventive actions such as toothbrushing, mouth washing and flossing daily.
At stage one, when the white spot has just appeared, the cavity can be reversed with proper oral hygiene and eating some mineral and vitamin rich foods.
Toothbrushing
It is recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA) to brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time with a toothpaste containing fluoride.
It is recommended to brush your teeth twice a day, once in the morning, just after waking up and once at night, just before going to bed.
You must also clean your teeth and gums, each time after you have food but not with a toothbrush. Simple rinse with water is considered good for overall oral health and hygiene.
Following this tooth brushing habit will help you prevent cavity formation in the first place and also heal a small cavity naturally in its earliest stage.
Do Not Immediately Brush after Eating Acidic Foods
You must wait for 30 minutes to one hour after consumption of acidic foods and drinks. The acid in the food or drink otherwise may erode the enamel layer and regular habit may cause exposed dentin leading to pain and sensitivity and increased risk of developing cavities.
Use Gentle and Short Strokes When Brushing Your Teeth
Use gentle, short strokes to brush your front teeth and thoroughly clean your mouth without abrading the enamel and preventing cavities from developing.
Brush the outside surfaces as well as the back molars and upper areas of your chewing surfaces. Brush the inside surfaces of both top and bottom front teeth by flipping your toothbrush upside down.
Brush your tongue to get rid of any bacteria or plaque.
Use a fluoride toothpaste
Fluoride can greatly help achieve oral and dental health by strengthening the tooth enamel, making it more resistant to tooth decay.
Fluoride reduces the amount of acid produced by the bacteria on your mouth and also helps the cavity in its earliest stage to repair and heal.
Floss Daily To Get Maximum Benefits Out Of Tooth Brushing
Many people, despite knowing the benefits of flossing daily, just neglect it.
According to a study, flossing is highly effective in reducing the interproximal caries risk.
Daily floss can help stimulate your gums and reduce plaque leading to lesser inflammation risk and increased healing process of the cavity in its earliest stage.
Consider mouthwash
Therapeutic Mouthwashes contain ADA listed active ingredients such as fluoride, peroxide, essential oils, cetylpyridinium chloride, and chlorhexidine, preventing cavities from forming and naturally healing the formed cavity in its earliest stage.
Therapeutic mouthwashes, as the name suggests have therapeutic action and control dental conditions like gingivitis, tooth decay and periodontal diseases. They also help remove halitosis.
Consult Your Dentist Twice In A Year
It is important to get your oral health checked twice every year with an interval of 6 months between two visits.
Your dentist can help remove calculus and locate cavities and will also be able to spot potential oral health issues, if any, and offer treatment solutions.
Fluoride treatments initiated in the earliest stages of tooth cavity may help it to reverse and heal.
Conclusion
This blog post addressed the topic, “do oranges cause cavities”. We learned about foods that provide best protection against cavities and foods that increase your risk of developing cavities.
The article outlined the fact that you can still get cavities even if you don’t eat sugar. It also explained what a cavity is, stages of a cavity formation and ways to heal dental cavities naturally.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs): Do Oranges Cause Cavities
Do apples cause cavities?
No, apples do not cause cavities. Apple contains natural sugar and is acidic but is not responsible for cavities.
In fact, the outer skin of apple is fibrous in nature, which on chewing stimulates the gum tissues, increases the salivary flow and flushes the cavity causing bacteria and microorganisms.
Apples do not cause cavities and in fact prevents them from forming and also keeps the jaw bone and teeth strong. Apple is rightly considered as a natural toothbrush.
Can apples reverse cavities?
Yes, if the cavity is in its earliest stage and has not yet reached dentin, then apples can reverse cavities naturally along with other practices of good oral hygiene and having a diet rich in calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and vitamin D.
Is sugar the worst thing for your teeth?
Yes! Sugar, starchy foods and acidic foods and drinks are the worst thing for your teeth. Consumption of sugary and starch rich foods expose the tooth to acids frequently, resulting in mineral loss from the enamel.
Infrequent tooth brushing habits cause poor oral hygiene, resulting in plaque accumulation. Plaque is a sticky film containing bacteria that coats the protective enamel of your teeth.
These bacteria produce acids by breaking down the food debris and the acids penetrate the enamel leading to formation of white spots on the teeth, an earliest stage of cavity formation.
Can I heal cavities naturally?
The dental cavity forms in five stages. First stage is the formation of white spots on the tooth surface and preventive actions like toothbrushing with a fluoride toothpaste, daily flossing and mouthwash can reverse the cavity formation in this stage.
However, if ignored, the cavity development may enter into its later stages where reversal is impossible to achieve and root canal is the only favourable treatment option.
Can Dental Caries Be Reversed?
The dental cavity forms in five stages. First stage is the formation of white spots on the tooth surface and preventive actions like toothbrushing with a fluoride toothpaste, daily flossing and mouthwash can reverse the cavity formation in this stage.
However, if ignored, the cavity development may enter into its later stages where reversal is impossible to achieve and root canal is the only favourable treatment option.
Do Cavities Spread?
No, cavities do not spread but may result from the same cause once again on another tooth.
Cavities do not spread from one tooth to another but may be caused by the same process and under the same conditions if proper treatment and oral hygiene is not maintained.
Other FAQs about Teeth cavities that you may be interested in.
How can I heal a cavity without going to the dentist?
How do cavities heal without fillings?
Does drinking milk prevent cavities?
References:
Rubido, Susana et al. “Effect of chewing an apple on dental plaque removal and on salivary bacterial viability.” PloS one vol. 13,7 e0199812. 18 Jul. 2018, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0199812
Apples: Dental Hygiene Facts. (2017)
Can You Cure Tooth Decay (Cavities) Naturally?
The Tooth Decay Process: How to Reverse It and Avoid a Cavity. (2018)
5 Amazingly Simple Things You Can Do to Prevent Cavities. (2017)