5 cavities in 6 months?

Question

I went to the dentist today for my routine 6 month check up, I go every 6 months without fail and in my whole life I've only had 1 filling, when I was 16. I'm now 23 years old.

Anyway, today when I went it was a different dentist to the one I usually see and he did the examination and told me I had 5 cavities!!!!! I was totally shocked, I mean I had a check up 6 months ago and the dentist said my teeth were fine - how could I develop 5 cavities in 6 months??? I asked the dentist if he could show me them, so he used a camera and took photos to show me 3 which are very obvious on the top, then showed me 2 others on my x-rays.

But how could I possibly have developed 5 cavities in 6 months?? Was the previous dentist just missing them? Or did they really all form in 6 months? If so, how can I stop it from happening again? I brush twice a day, floss fairly regularly and don't eat all that much sugar compared to my friends.

I do drink soft drinks occasionally, but no more than I ever have and I haven't changed my diet in any way. My dentist seemed surprised too when he realised I'd been there 6 months previously, but said it wasn't unheard of.

Answer 1

Ouch, poor you!!! I'm in the middle of getting fillings in practically all of my teeth right now, but that's my own fault because I didn't go to the dentist for 10 years! it sounds like you're doing all the right things, the only thing I'd suggest is that you should really be flossing every day. Maybe try to cut out soft drinks all together if you can. Have you recently started taking any medication that causes a dry mouth as a side effect? I know that can sometimes contribute to cavities.

Answer 2

Genetics plays a large part. After certain hormonal changes, your saliva has a different chemical makeup. I get cavities, my kids, now in their early 20's don't. My wife doesn't have a single one and she's over 40. Some types of saliva increase the acidity in your mouth and encourage the developement of the types of sugars that create cavities and break down the enamel of your teeth. Check this out with your dentist. There may be some kind of gum you can chew that will neutralize this chemical reaction. Dentyne or something.

Answer 3

You could have had these cavities there 6 months ago and your other dentist was just "watching them". Some dental providers choose to wait until cavities are a certain size before doing work on them, while others want to catch them while they are small. I work in an office with two dentists and one will "watch" smaller cavities while the other one, if she sees one, will suggest working on it right away. Hope this answers your question. Good luck

Answer 4

Sorry to hear ur dilemma. i am a dentist myself. It is highly unlikely that u developed all 5 cavities in 6 mons. More probable chance is that your first dentist might have overlooked an initial decay - esp. those on radiographs. Also initial decay on tooth surfaces can be really confusing even to the trained eyes, as deep stained fissures on the tooth can resemble initial decay. It is all a matter of clinical judgement and can vary between dentists. My advice to you is to get a third opinion, if possible, and go with the majority .

Answer 5

I have been told that I have a genetic predisposition to tooth decay - aka no matter how hard I try, I will still get cavities. While the previous dentist may have missed some of them, your body chemistry may have changed to make you more susceptible to tooth decay. It sucks, I hate going to the dentist because I know I will have at least 2 new cavities. You should try a fluoride rinse at night, like ACT. That will help to make your teeth even stronger.

Answer 6

That does sound odd, and I'm sorry to hear it, poor you. Have you changed your diet in any way? Are you under stress, so that you might be grinding your teeth thus weakening the enamel and allowing cavities? Or, are you pregnant? I ask because my sis-in-law had lovely strong teeth, and since having her first baby (my extremely gorgeous nephew) her teeth have been a mess and she has had to have a root canal as well as fillings. None of the above - then no idea - what did you dentist have to say - didn't he have any ideas?

Answer 7

i'm gonna inform you somewhat tale. I had cavities each and every of the time even as i became youthful. i'd truly get them once each and every 6 months. My dentist would merely be like ok we are gonna do an same element as very last time. Now to me its no longer that undesirable. i do not ideas having cavities reason it doesnt damage until eventually you're able to get novacaine. Thats the worst!

Answer 8

cavities develop in no time. your brushing may not be proper. eating too much starchy food and not washing the mouth after taking food are few reasons other than suger in causing cavities. may be the 2 cavities that were shown to u in x ray probably missed by ur previous dentist.

Answer 9

If you drink "full fat" soft drinks then that could well be why. You might just be prone to cavities or more likely you aren't brushing long enough or properly. Talk to your dentist and get his/her advice on this. Yahoo! answers isn't the best place to get medical advice from.

Answer 10

Maybe your prior dentist missed them. Or your teeth were genetically "programmed" to go bad in your twenties. How's your diet? Sometimes bad dietary habits take time to catch up with you.

Get floride treatments andsealants after the cavities are dealt with.