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A Close Look At Cavities

Summary & Participants

Even the bravest among us grow fearful when the dentist says "cavity" through that paper mask. In this program, our experts offer you some thoughts about how to keep your mouth cavity-free and treatment options for the occasional cavity.

Medically Reviewed On: June 19, 2008

Webcast Transcript

PAUL KAMEN, DDS: You should brush twice a day. Most people flossing once a day is adequate. Although if you feel that you're getting food stuck between your teeth, especially people who have lots of fillings or whose teeth are very, very close together, they tend to have that feeling that something is stuck in-between. It certainly doesn't hurt to floss more and get that food out between each meal.

DAVID FOLK THOMAS: Sometimes I've heard brush after every meal. Is that overdoing it?

GRAZIANO GIGLIO, DDS: You need to brush at least twice a day. What I tell most of my patients, if you get a chance after lunch, is to have a toothbrush around and brush. Not only just to remove the food and the bacteria, but also to coat the teeth with some fluoride which also prevents cavities. It now coats the tooth and protects it and also remineralizes the area.

Say you have a small cavity and you happen to put a lot of fluoride in that area. It remineralizes part of the tooth surface so the cavity doesn't get any larger.

DAVID FOLK THOMAS: What are sealants? I've heard about that. How does that relate to cavities?

PAUL KAMEN, DDS: Before I answer that, I'd kind of like to jump in -- sort of finish up a thought about the last issue -- about how many times to brush.

I certainly agree with what Graz said to brush after meals. Absolutely correct. The only thing that I would add is I like to see patients spend at least one time during the day brushing in a very concerted way. Brushing really properly, really taking the time to get into those gum crevices. Get to the back teeth, get to the inside surfaces of the teeth, and then of course, to floss.

DAVID FOLK THOMAS: How long should that all take?

PAUL KAMEN, DDS: That should take about seven minutes if you do all of that correctly. That's why I don't expect any of my patients to brush seven minutes three or four times a day. But I'd be happy if they'd spend one time a day doing that and then at least one other time, if not a few more times, doing it a little more haphazardly.

DAVID FOLK THOMAS: Okay, now let's get to sealants now. What's that about?

PAUL KAMEN, DDS: Sealants are a kind of polymeric resin that dentists use to cover the pits and fissures that Graz talked about earlier. Those are those little squiggly things on the biting surfaces of your teeth that you look into a mirror. Microscopically they're kind of like the Grand Canyon for bacteria. But they're very, very hard to get to. The bristle of a toothbrush could not fit into one of those little microscopic fissures. Dentists place these sealants over them to prevent the bacteria, prevent the plaque from settling into those fissures.

DAVID FOLK THOMAS: Is it permanent then? Or do you put it on children? Or when is the time to use sealants?

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