Beyond brushing

Are You Tired of Getting New Cavities Every Time You Visit the Dentist?

Do you brush and floss twice a day, avoid sugar as much as possible, and still hear, “You have another cavity” at your dental visits? You’re not alone.

According to the CDC:

• “Cavities are the most common chronic disease of childhood and are preventable.”

• “By age 8, over half of children (52%) have had a cavity in their primary (baby) teeth.”

How is it possible that more than half of American kids have a chronic disease before they turn 8? And why have we dentists been stuck in the same cycle of drilling, filling, and billing—without truly solving the problem?

The truth is, cavities are preventable. So why haven’t we eradicated them once and for all?

Because cavities are multifactorial. If they were caused by just one thing, we would have solved this decades ago. To understand how to prevent cavities, we first need to understand how they form—and how the body naturally protects our teeth.

Tooth Anatomy 101

A tooth has four layers (see Figure 1):

1. Enamel – the hardest substance in the human body, your first line of defense.

2. Dentin – located under the enamel, softer and more vulnerable.

3. Pulp – the innermost layer containing nerves and blood vessels.

4. Cementum – covers the tooth roots and anchors them to the bone.

What’s the Pathogen Behind Cavities?

Cavities aren’t caused by just one bacterium, but one of the most important is Streptococcus mutans.

• These bacteria are cousins of the strep throat bug.

• They thrive on sucrose (from sugar but also from refined carbs like white flour).

• Their by-product is lactic acid, which lowers the mouth’s pH and speeds up enamel breakdown.

• The result? Tiny holes form, bacteria move deeper, and cavities develop.

What Fuels Cavity-Causing Bacteria?

Several lifestyle and health factors contribute:

• Crowded teeth → harder to clean, more hiding spots for bacteria.

• Acidic diet → sodas, citrus, coffee, and processed foods lower mouth pH.

• High sugar & refined carb intake → constant fuel for bad bacteria.

• Vitamin D deficiency → in functional medicine, optimal levels are 60–70 ng/mL.

• Mineral deficiency → modern diets and depleted soils often lack key minerals for tooth repair.

• Poor oral microbiome balance → without feeding beneficial bacteria (through whole foods and fermented foods), the “bad bugs” take over.

The Bottom Line

Cavities are not just about brushing, flossing, and sugar. They’re a chronic disease process influenced by diet, nutrient status, oral microbiome health, and lifestyle.

Once we address all the contributing factors, we can finally start moving toward prevention that actually works—rather than endlessly drilling and filling.

Resources

• CDC: Managing Oral Health in Schools

• Struzycka I. The oral microbiome in dental caries. Pol J Microbiol. 2014;63(2):127-35

True wellness starts in your mouth.
Dr. Norma Cortez
Your Biological & Airway Dentist