Are cavities contagious?

Cavities form in the presence of sugary diets, bacteria, and of course the tooth.  Without the bacteria, despite the presence of sugar and the tooth, the cavities will not be forming. 

There are many factors when determining a caries risk for a person, and one of them is the level of cariogenic bacteria in the saliva.  Individuals with high level of cariogenic bacteria tend to easily develop cavities more than those with lower level of cariogenic bacteria.

Indeed, the bacteria that causes cavity can indeed be transmitted from one person to another.  The newborn acquires the majority of oral microflora from his mother.  In addition, the bacteria can be transmitted through saliva among family members and friends.

Here are what you can do to minimize the risk of cariogenic bacteria transmission.

1.     Determine the caries risk of yourself and of your children.

Having regular checkups with your dentist help assess the individual’s caries risk and increase awareness of the presence of the cavities in the household. Studies suggest that the presence of active cavities or history of having cavities in the past 12 months suggest that you are at high caries risk.

2.     Minimize activities that can result in saliva transmission.

Individuals with high caries risk have high level of cariogenic bacteria. Therefore,  avoidance of shared utensils, food, or physical contacts such as kissing or sneezing, can help reduce chance of cariogenic bacteria transmission.   

3.     Ask your dentist about xylitol.

Xylitol is the natural occurring sugar that has been shown to reduce the level of the cariogenic bacteria, Mutans Streptococci, in plaque and saliva.  The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry supports the use of Xylitol as a non-cariogenic sugar substitute. Consult with your dentist regarding the caries risk for you and your children and the possibility of the use of xylitol for risk management.  Xylitol products are available in many forms such as gum, lozenges, syrup and snack foods. The dentist will be able to recommend the best form and dosage in accordance with your caries risk.

4.     Maintain regular oral hygiene care including tooth brushing with fluoride toothpaste at least twice daily and flossing daily, and avoid excessive intake of sugary diets.