How Do You Get Cavities?

Closeup of a woman getting a dental checkup at the dentist in Long Island City, NY, to check for cavities

A cavity is a hole in a tooth that indicates permanent damage. Also known as dental caries, cavities can grow bigger and result in infection, pain, and tooth loss.

At Queensboro Plaza Dental Care, your family dentist in Long Island City, NY, we educate our patients about how to prevent dental disease, including decay and cavities. In addition to providing our preventive dentistry services, this includes teaching superb oral health habits at home, such as daily brushing and flossing.

Bacteria

Bacteria is the leading cause of cavities. You feed bacteria in your mouth whenever you consume foods and drinks that contain sugar or carbohydrates (an important macronutrient that breaks down into sugars). As the bacteria devour your dietary sugars, they produce an acidic waste that weakens the enamel of your teeth. This occurs through demineralization, which is the stripping away of the enamel’s minerals. If the enamel is not sufficiently fortified through remineralization, it will become permanently damaged and result in a cavity.

How to Prevent Cavities

Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day. This will allow you to produce saliva, your mouth’s natural rinse. Saliva is also critical for effective remineralization. It deposits essential minerals, such as fluoride and calcium, onto your enamel for absorption.

Consume sugary treats and acidic foods and beverages in moderation. For example, chronic consumption of coffee, orange juice, and soda can weaken your enamel.

Additionally, brush your teeth morning and night for a full two minutes each time, floss every day, and visit our friendly team every six months at Queensboro Plaza Dental Care for routine cleanings and checkups. Certain patients may benefit from more frequent appointments. We’ll let you know if this applies to you!

Schedule Your Next Dental Visit!

If it’s been more than six months since your last dental cleaning and checkup, contact us today to schedule a visit to Queensboro Plaza Dental Care in Long Island City, NY. We offer comprehensive dental care to patients of all ages, including children.

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Patient Reviews

Karoline PammerKaroline Pammer
20:52 30 Mar 22
Dr. Nguyen and his staff are extremely competent, friendly and professional. He is very thorough and explains everything very clearly. Finally I feel like I am in good hands when it comes to dental care.
Matt SmithMatt Smith
21:18 05 Feb 22
Great overall experience getting a dental cleaning. Very friendly staff, beautifully designed office, and a comfortable experience watching calming Netflix nature programming while in the chair. Complimentary beverages are in the waiting room and so is a little play area for kids.It felt to me that this was a patient-focused family practice as opposed to a cold, corporate dental mill trying to churn through as many patients as possible.I’ll definitely be coming back here for all my dental needs and I highly recommend.
Sundup SherpaSundup Sherpa
22:07 02 Feb 22
Dr. Nguyen and his staff are very welcoming and they provide an excellent experience every time I visit. I’ve only been here twice for annual checkups but would definitely consider and recommend this place to anyone who appreciates good customer experience and a very thoughtful approach to making sure that you feel at home. I have some procedures set up for later in the month and I must actually be the only person in the world actually looking forward to a dentist appointment.
Jayrockem GottemJayrockem Gottem
21:27 09 Nov 21
Great place wonderful staff they will be my go too dentist 100%
shawaf alishawaf ali
22:08 26 Aug 21
Very confident after leaving the office that my teeth are in greatttt hands. Above and beyond patient care. Very informative visits. A sense that they genuinely care about patient concerns. Added helpful guidelines I took home with me to reach dental hygiene goals before my next visits. Highly recommended you leave your old scary dentist ! 😁😁
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Queensboro Plaza Dental Care

Queensboro Plaza Dental Care