{"id":59,"date":"2026-08-13T18:42:58","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T18:42:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.burtonfamilydentaljerome.com\/blog\/2026\/08\/13\/cavity-between-teeth-how-to-tell-you-have-one\/"},"modified":"2026-08-13T18:42:58","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T18:42:58","slug":"cavity-between-teeth-how-to-tell-you-have-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.burtonfamilydentaljerome.com\/blog\/2026\/08\/13\/cavity-between-teeth-how-to-tell-you-have-one\/","title":{"rendered":"Between Your Teeth: How Can You Tell a Cavity Exists?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.burtonfamilydentaljerome.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/cavity-between-teeth-how-to-tell-you-hav-300x200.jpeg\" alt=\"dentist showing male patient X-rays\" class=\"wp-image-58\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.burtonfamilydentaljerome.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/cavity-between-teeth-how-to-tell-you-hav-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.burtonfamilydentaljerome.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/cavity-between-teeth-how-to-tell-you-hav-1024x682.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.burtonfamilydentaljerome.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/cavity-between-teeth-how-to-tell-you-hav-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.burtonfamilydentaljerome.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/cavity-between-teeth-how-to-tell-you-hav.jpeg 1430w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You may not realize you have a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.burtonfamilydentaljerome.com\/restorative-dentistry.html\">cavity<\/a> until you visit your dentist for a general checkup. These appointments are designed to catch problems in their earliest stages, so if your dentist sees decay forming between your teeth, you\u2019ll want to make sure you start treatment before it worsens. Read on to find out how cavities can form in these tight spaces and what you can do to prevent them in the future.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Causes a Cavity to Form Between Teeth?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cavities do not only form on the surface, but they can also develop in the tightest areas and crevices between teeth, and they do this because of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Accumulated plaque and tartar<\/strong> that forms when bacteria, food debris, and saliva come together but are not removed regularly.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Neglected oral hygiene, <\/strong>specifically flossing. When you fail to clean between your teeth, plaque remains trapped, allowing cavities to form.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Eating sugary and starchy foods<\/strong>. Chips, candy, pasta, and similar foods are known to cause bacterial buildup that can eventually break down tooth enamel and lead to cavities.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Smoking and tobacco use<\/strong> increase the risk of cavities and gum disease, so when soft tissues recede, areas between teeth become more vulnerable to decay.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dry mouth<\/strong>, as it lacks proper saliva production, which is known to neutralize harmful acids that break down enamel and cause cavities.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Can You Know if You Have a Cavity Between Your Teeth?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although your dentist may be the first one to say that you have a cavity between your teeth officially, there are some symptoms you can look out for, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures<\/li>\n<li>Difficulty chewing with the affected tooth<\/li>\n<li>Discomfort or pain when chewing or biting down<\/li>\n<li>The affected tooth may appear stained (brown, black, or white spots)<\/li>\n<li>Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Can You Avoid Cavities Between Teeth From Developing?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While treatment options are available (tooth-colored fillings), it\u2019s always best to avoid this issue if you can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can do this by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Brushing twice a day for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste and flossing at least once to clean between teeth.<\/li>\n<li>See your dentist for biannual checkups and cleanings to check for any cavities that may have formed between appointments.<\/li>\n<li>Minimize how much sugar and starch you incorporate into your diet.<\/li>\n<li>Drink lots of water to keep your salivary glands working properly.<\/li>\n<li>Quit smoking and using tobacco products.<\/li>\n<li>Eat healthier, nutrient-rich foods that promote cavity-free teeth.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Take the necessary steps to keep your smile cavity-free. By incorporating these habits, you\u2019ll notice a difference in your oral health because of the positive feedback you receive from your dentist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr. Hannah Burton earned her dental degree at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry before pursuing additional training through Spear Education. She leads the team at Burton Family Dental, providing restorative care to those with decayed teeth. Using tooth-colored fillings, she educates patients on how cavities develop and how to avoid them in the future. If you think you might have one, visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.burtonfamilydentaljerome.com\/contact.html\">website<\/a> or call <strong>(<\/strong><strong>614<\/strong><strong>) <\/strong><strong>633<\/strong><strong>&#8211;<\/strong><strong>4447<\/strong><strong> <\/strong>to schedule an appointment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You may not realize you have a cavity until you visit your dentist for a general checkup. These appointments are designed to catch problems in their earliest stages, so if your dentist sees decay forming between your teeth, you\u2019ll want to make sure you start treatment before it worsens. Read on to find out how [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-59","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.burtonfamilydentaljerome.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.burtonfamilydentaljerome.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.burtonfamilydentaljerome.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.burtonfamilydentaljerome.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.burtonfamilydentaljerome.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=59"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.burtonfamilydentaljerome.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.burtonfamilydentaljerome.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.burtonfamilydentaljerome.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.burtonfamilydentaljerome.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}