BACK TEETH CAVITIES AND PLAQUE BACTERIA

Approved and reviewed by Dr. Lee, a dental professional of over 35 years. LEARN MORE

Dr Robert Lee

Dr Robert Lee is a dentist with more than thirty years of experience in the industry.

Graduating from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery and from the University of New South Wales with a Master of Business Administration, Robert’s career has taken him all over the world – from Australia to Germany to his current position in Chicago, where he is the founder of Denticus Inc., offering strategic dental consulting.

Robert has previously worked for Procter & Gamble as the Director of Professional Scientific Relations in both the Cincinnati and Sydney offices, being responsible for external relations and scientific exchange with leading professional associations and industry thought leaders. He was also responsible for all technical and scientific training for the professional teams in North America and Australia.

Robert has been assisting the team at Oral-B by fact-checking and reviewing our blogs on dental health. You can find a list of the blogs Robert has approved below:

SEE MORE

• Receding Gums: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments
• What are Dental Caries? Treatments, Signs, and Symptoms
• Dental Scaling and Root Planing Explained
• Sensitive Teeth: Causes, Treatments, and Prevention
• Types of Gum Disease: Stages, Factors & Related Conditions
• Cavity Treatments: What are Ways to Treat Cavities?
• Tooth Plaque and Dental Tartar
• What is Periodontitis? Treatments, Signs, and Symptoms
• Tooth Decay and Cavities: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
• Bad Breath (Halitosis): Causes, Remedies, and Treatments

SEE LESS

• BACK TEETH OR MOLAR CAVITIES
• WHY DO MY BACK TEETH HURT?
• HOW QUICKLY CAN PLAQUE FORM ON YOUR TEETH?
• SIMPLE STEPS FOR PLAGUE REMOVAL

BACK TEETH OR MOLAR CAVITIES

As everyone who brushes and flosses their teeth knows, your back teeth are harder to reach and to keep clean than your front teeth. The back teeth are developed with grooves and ridges that help you chew food, but the downside is that these grooves and ridges can also collect tiny food particles and plaque, which contains bacteria that can increase the risk of cavities.

Leftover plaque bacteria can cause the development of a cavity between these teeth. The back teeth are harder to reach when brushing, making them more susceptible to tooth decay in the form of a cavity, especially in the tight space between the back teeth. To help keep your teeth free from cavities and prevent the damage that plaque bacteria can cause, consider using an electric toothbrush to better reach these tight spaces as well as using a fluoride rinse to your routine and ask your dental professional if an antibacterial mouthwash can help.

WHY DO MY BACK TEETH HURT?

Tooth decay doesn't happen overnight. The bacteria in your mouth could cause a film called plaque to grow over your teeth. Eating foods rich in sugar helps bacteria in the plaque to produce energy that they need to survive, as well as harmful acids that can break down the enamel and lead to cavities. A healthy diet and twice daily brushing for the dentist-recommended 2 minutes to remove the plaque bacteria are essential to preventing tooth decay.

If plaque is left behind, tooth decay can progress inward and affect the nerves in the pulp of the tooth. This progressive decay can cause symptoms including pain and swelling and may result in tooth loss.

HOW QUICKLY CAN PLAQUE FORM ON YOUR TEETH?

Bacteria can convert fermentable sugars (which are found in many foods) into plaque within 20 minutes. Be sure to remove plaque bacteria around your molars with your toothbrush and dental floss every day.

SIMPLE STEPS FOR PLAGUE REMOVAL

To effectively remove plaque, be sure to brush a minimum of twice daily. Consider switching to an electric toothbrush. Brushing with an electric toothbrush like the Oral-B iO2 removes up to 100% more plaque than a regular manual toothbrush with our dentist inspired round brush heads that adapts to each unique tooth. Use floss at least once a day to remove plaque bacteria from teeth where it’s difficult to reach with a regular toothbrush. If it is hard for you to reach your back teeth or molars, consider using interdental brushes, floss picks or a water flosser. Speak to your dental professional about using a fluoride toothpaste and antibacterial mouthwash to help keep your teeth healthy and gums in good condition.

Sources:

https://www.ada.org/en/member-center/oral-health-topics/mouthrinse#:~:text=Antimicrobials%20in%20mouthwash%20formulations%20include,ketone%2C%20terpene%2C%20and%20ionone

https://www.dentalplans.com/dental-information/dental-concerns/bacteria-in-your-mouth

https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1081424-overview

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/dental/art-20047475

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8259/

https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2019/05/mouth-microbes