Have you ever wondered why some people seem to always have cavities and others never seem to get the?   The reason for this is most often a difference in diet.  Cavities, called caries in the dental world, are caused by bacteria that live in your mouth.  These bacteria break down sugar to form an acid that attacks the surface (enamel) of your teeth.  This acid is formed and begins attacking your teeth almost immediately after you eat or drink something containing sugar.  Over time this acid begins to cause the cavity in your tooth. As mentioned above when you eat sugary food the bacteria in your mouth begin producing acid for about 20 minutes!  Therefore, the amount of decay that is caused depends not only on how much but also how often sugar is consumed.  For example: consuming sugary food or drink every 20 minutes insures that the acid level in your mouth stays high and cavities are usually the results. There is hope however.  We have an ally in the fight against cavities.  First and foremost is our own saliva.  The saliva in your mouth neutralizes and washes away some of the acids which are produced by the bacteria.  Sugar free chewing gum can also help reduce the amount of acid in your mouth by increasing saliva flow.  Good oral hygiene and brushing at least twice a day with a fluoride containing toothpaste will also help reduce the number of bacteria living in your mouth. There are several things you can do to reduce your chances of getting a cavity. · Reduce the amount and number of times that you eat sweets. · Avoid sticky, sweet foods, such as candy bars, since they are the most conductive to tooth decay. · Drink fewer beverages that contain sugar (soft drinks, coffee and tea sweetened with sugar), because they provide more sugar to the average diet than any other “food”. · Cut down on fatty sweets, such as doughnuts, pies, pastries, chocolate, and ice cream.  · Replace sweets with fresh fruit, whole grain breads, and cereals, pasta, potatoes, beans vegetables, and corn.  All the stuff your mom told you to eat. · Brush your teeth, chew sugarless gum, or rinse after each snack or meal. · Rinse with a fluoride mouthwash twice a day.