Most people are well acquainted with the advice to brush twice per day. If you do this, then you may feel like you are doing what you need to do to avoid cavities and keep your teeth healthy. If you get a cavity despite your efforts to brush regularly, you may wonder how that could happen. The reality is that properly caring for your teeth involves more than simply brushing. Things that can lead to cavities include skipping out on flossing, eating a poor diet, having genetics that make you prone to cavities, and avoiding routine dental appointments. Any of these factors, or a combination of them, can lead to cavities even though you are diligent about brushing regularly. 

Skipping out on flossing

Flossing is an essential component of a high-quality oral care routine. If you skip out on flossing, you leave your teeth vulnerable to decay. Food particles and bacteria can get in between your teeth and at your gumline. Brushing alone cannot get to all the areas where bacteria can build up. Over time, skipping out on flossing can lead to issues like gum disease and decay. Being consistent with flossing as well as brushing will provide another layer of protection to your teeth. 

Eating a poor diet

The things that you eat and don’t eat can impact your chances of developing cavities. Just like every other area of your body, your teeth are impacted by your nutrition. Eating a poor diet can make you more susceptible to getting cavities. If you are missing out on essential nutrients or eating a lot of things that are harmful to your teeth, it can lead to cavities despite regular brushing. 

Avoiding routine dental care

Routine dental care is an important part of preventing cavities. Even when you brush and floss regularly, plaque and tartar can develop on your teeth. Plaque turns into tartar if it is not removed promptly. Tartar can lead to decay and gum disease if it is allowed to remain on your teeth. The only way to get tartar off your teeth is by scraping it with a dental tool. This is one thing that happens during routine dental visits. If you avoid going to the dentist twice per year it can lead to cavities – even if you brush regularly. 

Genetics

Your genetics can impact your likelihood of developing cavities. Some people are simply more prone to problems like gum disease and tooth decay because of genetics. There is nothing you can do to change your genetics but developing a high-quality oral care routine that includes brushing, flossing, eating a healthy diet, and getting routine dental care can help.

It can be frustrating to learn that you have cavities even though you brush your teeth regularly. Protecting your teeth from cavities is a multi-step process that involves more than brushing alone. If brushing is the only thing you currently do to protect your teeth, consider adding in flossing, eating a healthy diet, and going to routine dental visits. These actions, along with regular brushing, will help you fight against oral issues like cavities and gum disease.