{"id":270,"date":"2013-08-01T12:41:40","date_gmt":"2013-08-01T12:41:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.leslatnerdds.com\/?p=270"},"modified":"2026-09-07T20:52:35","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T20:52:35","slug":"risk-factors-for-cavities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.leslatnerdds.com\/blog\/risk-factors-for-cavities\/","title":{"rendered":"Risk Factors for Cavities"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"general<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

You\u2019ve heard all your life that keeping your teeth healthy means avoiding sugary foods and brushing twice a day. But in fact, when it comes to cavities, there are other risk factors besides sugary foods and not brushing that you should be aware of. In today\u2019s post, we\u2019d like to go over some of those. We hope you find them informative, and if you have any questions about what you see, don\u2019t hesitate to call our Los Angeles dental office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Factors Put You at Risk for Cavities?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Already having cavities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

All patients face a risk of developing cavities, but patients who have had cavities in the past are more likely to develop new ones in the future. That\u2019s because cavities weaken the protective outer layer of teeth, known as enamel. If you\u2019ve had cavities in the past, make good oral habits a priority to protect your smile going forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lack of fluoride<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Why is fluoride added to toothpaste and community water supplies?  Because it supports oral health. Specifically, it attracts important minerals, ensuring that the enamel stays strong in the face of bacteria and acid. Not getting enough fluoride means your enamel will be weaker and more vulnerable to decay. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste, drinking tap water, and including a fluoride mouthwash into your daily routine will all help you prevent cavities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Family history<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Not every family makes brushing and flossing a priority, but that\u2019s not the only way family history can contribute to cavities. For some patients, an increased risk of cavities comes down to genetics. If the members of your family seem to be naturally susceptible, make regular home care and checkups a priority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dry mouth<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Saliva has at least two important functions: it helps flush bacteria from our mouths and neutralizes acid to protect teeth from decay. If you struggle with dry mouth, it\u2019s important to stay hydrated by drinking water throughout the day, or you may want something like xylitol mints or gum, which help maintain a neutral pH.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Want to Better Protect Your Smile?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

These are just a few of the possible risk factors associated with cavities. To learn more, or to come in for a consultation, call<\/a> Westside Dental Associates<\/b> to reserve an appointment. Dr. Les Latner<\/a> provides comprehensive dental care<\/a> to patients from Los Angeles<\/b>, Santa Monica<\/b>, Beverly Hills<\/b>, West LA<\/b>, and Mar Vista<\/b>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"You\u2019ve heard all your life that keeping your teeth healthy means avoiding sugary foods and brushing twice a day. But in fact, when it comes to cavities, there are other risk factors besides sugary foods and not brushing that you should be aware of. In today\u2019s post, we\u2019d like to go over some of those. We hope you find them informative, and if you have any questions about what you see, don\u2019t hesitate to call our Los Angeles dental office. What Factors Put You at Risk for Cavities? Already having cavities All patients face a risk of developing cavities, but patients who have had cavities in the past are more likely to develop new ones […] (Read More)<\/a>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[57,44,27,25,87,54,86,18],"class_list":["post-270","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general-dentistry-2","tag-beverly-hills","tag-dr-les-latner","tag-general-dentistry","tag-los-angeles","tag-mar-vista","tag-santa-monica","tag-west-la","tag-westside-dental-associates"],"yoast_head":"\nRisk Factors for Cavities - Westside Dental Associates<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leslatnerdds.com\/blog\/risk-factors-for-cavities\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Risk Factors for Cavities - Westside Dental Associates\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"You\u2019ve heard all your life that keeping your teeth healthy means avoiding sugary foods and brushing twice a day. But in fact, when it comes to cavities, there are other risk factors besides sugary foods and not brushing that you should be aware of. In today\u2019s post, we\u2019d like to go over some of those. We hope you find them informative, and if you have any questions about what you see, don\u2019t hesitate to call our Los Angeles dental office. What Factors Put You at Risk for Cavities? 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