You’re sitting there in the dentist’s office when he gives you some bad news – you have yet another cavity. Your face turns red and you’re not sure whether you should scream, cry, or do a little of both. After all, you don’t deserve this. You brush your teeth twice a day and you floss every evening. You rarely indulge in sweets (at least no more so than the average human being), and you make an effort to keep your diet as enamel-friendly as possible. So then what’s the problem? Why do you keep on getting cavities despite all that you do to avoid them? And why is your dentist trying to comfort you by telling you that your latest cavity most likely did not arise as a result of your own personal habits?
If cavities seem to be a perpetual part of your world and your oral care habits aren’t the problem, then you might want to stop and consider the fact that the issue just might be the shape of your teeth. Although your teeth might not be all that horrendous, you have to admit that there is a degree of overlap; and while your condition was never one that prompted your parents to take you for braces, you can’t help but wonder if your cavity problems might stem from the fact that your teeth are, for the most part, crooked.
Dr. Joseph Pizzarello is an experienced dentist at Pizzarello and Silvestro Family Dentistry, a Stoneham, Massachusetts practice that offers everything from cosmetic services to emergency dental treatment, and according to him, it’s an unfortunate fact that people with crooked teeth are more likely to get cavities than those with straight teeth. The logic is fairly simple: The more crooked one’s teeth are, the harder it becomes to clean properly around them and work floss in between them.
Of course, the word “crooked” can mean a lot of things when it comes to the appearance of teeth, but when it comes to a propensity for cavities, overlapping teeth take the cake. While spaced out teeth with visible gaps might not be too aesthetically pleasing, they don’t tend to present too many difficulties on the brushing front. Overlapping teeth, on the other hand, can make brushing a challenge, and in some cases, a person might think she’s doing a good job at brushing when, in reality, she’s unsuccessfully getting in between her teeth like she should be.
Although hearing that you have a cavity is not technically good news, not every cavity is as bad or as deep as another. If you’re brushing and flossing daily and keeping your diet in check, then your dentist might end up telling you that your cavity is the easily treatable, unavoidable type that stems from having teeth such as yours. It might not be the thing you want to hear, but you might as well face the reality of your situation and deal with it accordingly.
So what can you do to avoid cavities that stem from having crooked teeth? According to Dr. Pizzarello, straightening devices (such as Invisalign or other such aligners) are an option if you’re willing to spend the money. Otherwise, the only thing to do is to try to get even better at brushing and flossing. While the idea of having all of your oral care efforts go to waste might not sit well with you, don’t use the news of a cavity as an excuse to forego your good habits, as doing so is only likely to worsen your situation. Remember, as unpleasant as cavities might be, in the grand scheme of dental treatments, they are actually not the worst thing that could happen to your mouth. So the next time your dentist tells you that he’s found a minor cavity, try to step back, take a deep breath, and accept it as an unavoidable side effect of having crooked teeth.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
