This Myth About Cavities Will Make You Want to See Your Dentist ASAP

“The most common misconception about a cavity is that a cavity is going to cause you a lot of pain,” says Jennifer Jablow, DDS, dentist in New York City. “Most of the time when you’re having pain from a cavity, it’s already too late to get a filling or just a crown, usually at that point you’re getting a root canal.”

A cavity is tooth decay, or the destruction of tooth enamel, which is the hard, outer layer of your teeth. “Cavities are quite common in adults these days because a lot of people have very acidic foods and acidic drinks, and that helps take away the mineral quality of the teeth and make them more vulnerable to cavities,” says Dr. Jablow. Learn whether sugar causes cavities here.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Brittany Doohan

Brittany Doohan was the Content Director at HealthiNation and is currently the Editorial Director at Medscape. Through her work with Medscape, she won a Silver Telly Award in May 2022 for "Sleepless Nation: A Public Health Epidemic — Episode 2: A Decade Without a Diagnosis." She has worked in health journalism and video production for more than 8 years, and loves the challenge of explaining complex topics in an easy-to-understand and creative way.

Reviewed by:

Brian Clista, MD

Dr. Clista is a board-certified pediatrician who works in private practice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He previously served as a National Health Service Corporation Scholar in the inner city of Pittsburgh for 11 years.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts