When it comes to preventing cavities in children and adults, everyone knows that complete abstinence from eating sugary candies and sodas will help a lot. But unless you have the discipline it takes to put your family on a Spartan diet, total avoidance of these common cavity-causers is hardly a realistic goal. In fact, the truth is many other "healthier" foods are just as serious culprits as the obvious ones in causing cavities. A little dose of moderation mixed with common sense makes for more attainable cavity prevention goals. Here are some no-nonsense, realistic tips.

What Causes Cavities?

Simply put: when we eat foods that contain carbohydrates in any form, natural bacteria in our mouths metabolize the carbs and produce a type of acid as a by-product. These acids eat away at the calcium and phosphorus of tooth enamel, weakening this hard coating and making the tooth vulnerable to decay: i.e. cavities. This is a highly simplified explanation, but it makes one thing clear: simple sugars are not the only culprits. Even "good" carbohydrates such as pasta, whole-grain breads, fruits, and raisins can wreak havoc on teeth: so simple avoidance of candy and soda is not the answer.

Common-Sense Prevention

• Brush, brush, brush: If mature bacteria (or plaque) are allowed to remain on the teeth for longer than 12 hours, that's when its destructive powers are truly maximized. This is why it's so important to brush and floss our teeth at least twice a day for a minimum of two minutes at a time. Bacteria like to hide, so the longer we brush the more likely we are to hit those trouble spots and remove the cavity-causing dangers.

• Fluoride treatments: In addition to brushing with fluoridated toothpaste, twice-yearly fluoride treatments from a dentist are a must. The fluoride actually mingles with the enamel's calcium and phosphorous, creating a super-tight barrier against cavity-causing acids.

• Twice-yearly dentist visits: Fluoride toothpastes are simply no substitute for a good cleaning from a hygienist! Dental instruments and techniques are essential to removing plaque and keeping teeth healthy and strong. If you do have a cavity, a dentist will nip it in the bud before it worsens, spreads, and causes cavities on other teeth.