In the above photo, you can see the surface of a tooth blown up. As you can see, the surface of a tooth has many ridges and valleys. It is in these ridges and valleys that food particles and liquids containing sugars can be trapped leading to tooth decay.

When people ask why they have a cavity, especially when they are more infrequent for a person, it is almost always our diet creating the issue. Without food particles and sugary/acidic drinks, there would be nothing for bacteria to feast on to break down a tooth. Unfortunately, many of our foods we consume today are highly processed and it is exactly this highly processed food that leads to a higher prevalence of tooth decay.

These highly processed foods and sugary drinks can get buried in the grooves of teeth, even where a toothbrush cannot clean. It is because of this fact that people will develop a cavity even when they have superb brushing habits. Cavities develop over time and due to the grooves in our teeth sometimes a cavity isn't preventable. However, by going to the dentist these small cavities can be detected and treated early on and prevent the cavity from burying deeper into the tooth.

This is the reason dentists promote sealants because they cover these grooves and seal them off from food particles, sugary drinks, and the bacteria that break a tooth down. Sealants are one of the best methods of preventing tooth decay and cavities, especially in children, so that people can have healthy teeth for a life time. If you haven't had your child seen by a dentist, now is the time. Setting your children up for success with healthy teeth is something that is invaluable.