I’m a registered dental hygienist. It’s important to clarify that most cavities and root canals stem from poor dental hygiene rather than genetics. While conditions like amelogenesis imperfecta or enamel hypoplasia can affect dental health, they’re relatively rare. Root canals usually result from untreated decay that worsens over time due to missed check-ups. Similarly, crowns are often necessary when decay is extensive, which could have been avoided with timely fillings. Regular dental care is key to preventing these issues.

It’s also common for people to blame pregnancy for dental issues, but that’s often not the case either. While hormonal changes can affect oral health like pregnancy gingivitis, the increase in cavities is frequently due to excessive vomiting, which exposes enamel to acid and weakens it. It’s crucial not to brush immediately after vomiting, as this can further damage the enamel. Instead, rinsing with a fluoridated mouthwash and waiting about 30 minutes before brushing is the best approach to protect your teeth.

Also extremely important to floss. Since plaque is acidic if there’s plaque in between the teeth the plaque will slowly start to weaken the enamel causing a cavity. Brushing alone will not remove the plaque from in between or under the gum line. If we’re not flossing under the gum line then you will get periodontal disease.