A Tooth Cavity Is Made by Bacteria, Not Sugar
A cavity is a hollow space. In dentistry it is a hole caused by acid, and the sugar is only an accomplice.
A cavity is an empty space within a solid object. In teeth the mechanism is often misdescribed: sugar does not dissolve enamel. Bacteria in dental plaque consume sugar and produce acid, and it is the acid that dissolves the mineral. That is why frequency of sugar matters more than quantity — each exposure restarts the acid attack.
- A hollow space. *A body cavity.*
- A hole in a tooth. *Two cavities.*
- Cavity wall — a wall with a gap inside. *Cavity wall insulation.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | cavity | A deep cavity. |
| Plural | cavities | Several cavities. |
| Medical | caries | Dental caries. |
| Adjective | cavitary | A cavitary lesion. |
| Related | cave | A rock cave. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The dentist found a cavity.Dentistry.
- The abdominal cavity holds the organs.Anatomy.
- Cavity wall insulation fills the gap.Building.
How tooth decay works
- Plaque — a film of bacteria on the tooth
- Sugar — feeds the bacteria
- Acid — the bacterial waste product
- Demineralisation — acid dissolves the enamel
- Fluoride — helps the enamel repair itself between attacks
From Latin *cavitas*, hollowness, from *cavus*, hollow. The dental sense dates from the nineteenth century.
Does sugar cause cavities directly?
No. Bacteria consume it and produce acid, and the acid dissolves enamel. That is why how often you eat sugar matters more than how much.
What is caries?
The medical name for tooth decay. A cavity is the hole that results from it.