just out of curiosity, is there anyone who has never had a cavity or a filling, or know of someone who hasn't? I only know of one person, a girl I used to work with, who commented one day how she 'likes' getting her teeth cleaned, and I just kinda looked at her like she was nuts and asked, And you probably love fillings, too, right? and she said she'd never had one, never had a cavity. Amazing. Here I am doing everything imaginable trying to keep my teeth in tip top shape - brush and floss twice a day, NO exceptions, NO going to bed without doing it - don't eat alot of sweets, don't smoke, don't drink pop, etc etc, and there's been times I've gone in for a cleaning only to be told I have 4 cavities. 4. F-O-U-R. I have looked at my dentist and said, 'Where on earth could I possibly have 4 cavities, they're all filled as it is....' but I do. And then you have people like my friend who doesn't even floss half the time and she not only looks like a walking ad for perfect teeth, she's never had a cavity. Unbelievable. I can't help but be envious that she does half the pampering of her teeth that I do and I'm the one with the problems. So I was just curious if anyone else out there has never had one, either.

I'm 28.. just had my first filling for a cavity 2 weeks ago.. was hoping to go longer than that without one, but it didn't work out that way.. So it is possible! I think part of it is good genes.. I rarely, if ever floss.. (however that's why I have problems with my gums.. just for some reason it hasnt' affected my teeth).

My husband and I both have a head full of fillings but our 29 year old daughter has none. When she has her teeth cleaned eveyone working in the office comes in to have a look.

MY son is 22, has never had a cavity. He takes very good care of his teeth, but isn't extreme about it. His younger brother is 20 and every time he goes for a cleaning there is some cavity or work he has to go back for. I will say that I did make sure they never missed their 6 month check-ups when they were growing up.

My son is 30 qnd has never had a cavity.
On the other hand I've had almost every tooth root canaled and just recently got dentures.

I'll be 44 in October, no cavities yet. I agree--I think it's a genetic thing as my brother only had 2 or 3 his entire life.

just out of curiosity, is there anyone who has never had a cavity or a filling, or know of someone who hasn't? I only know of one person, a girl I used to work with, who commented one day how she 'likes' getting her teeth cleaned, and I just kinda looked at her like she was nuts and asked, And you probably love fillings, too, right? and she said she'd never had one, never had a cavity. Amazing. Here I am doing everything imaginable trying to keep my teeth in tip top shape - brush and floss twice a day, NO exceptions, NO going to bed without doing it - don't eat alot of sweets, don't smoke, don't drink pop, etc etc, and there's been times I've gone in for a cleaning only to be told I have 4 cavities. 4. F-O-U-R. I have looked at my dentist and said, 'Where on earth could I possibly have 4 cavities, they're all filled as it is....' but I do. And then you have people like my friend who doesn't even floss half the time and she not only looks like a walking ad for perfect teeth, she's never had a cavity. Unbelievable. I can't help but be envious that she does half the pampering of her teeth that I do and I'm the one with the problems. So I was just curious if anyone else out there has never had one, either.

Lots of people. Some reasons why-many people 30 and younger who have had regular dental visits may have had selants placed on their 1st and 2nd molars. This seals the deep pits and fissures where most decay starts. Also some people just have extremely deep pits and fissures,which if not sealed when they are younger make brushing harder and food tends to trap,causing decay. Also fluoride can play a role. Some people have fl in their water,others don't. FL makes for stronger teeth, but too much is not good either. Even though you have had some cavities, flossing and brushing are still your best defense against future problems.

44 and no cavitites. Unbelievable. My mom had bad teeth and ended up getting dentures when she was pretty young, so maybe it is a genetic thing. We also grew up on well water from the time I was 10, and I've had mixed reactions to that - some people say if I had florinated water the first ten years of my life, then well water after that shouldn't be a factor, and others say it could, because you need flouride all your life. I don't think it was a factor myself as my sister had that same well water almost all through her growing up years, from the time she was 6 until 18, and I think she has maybe one or two fillings in her mouth? And you know, I try to take such good care of my teeth that it doesn't really seem fair with all I do and I still get cavitites. :confused:

I think it has a lot to do with genetics and the spacing of your teeth. Mine are very close together so food always manages to become trapped somewhere. Even though I brush twice a day, use mouthwash and floss before bed. I have started using a mouthwash (I believe it is Act) that restores the enamel of your teeth and I also use floss that has toothpaste on it to clean between teeth. I am hoping that this helps. Although I think that I should probably just get braces.

I had a friend whos dentist told him that his teeth were self cleaning because they were so proportionately spaced. When he told me that, I wanted to smack him :)

I'd like to smack that dentist!! Self-cleaning teeth? Does that work like a self-cleaning oven? LOL

I think genetics has a little to do with it. The amount of bacteria the mouth produces.. could run in the family.

But I do know this: Decay is caused by one thing only. Sugar, not fat, not protein... SUGAR.

It goes like this (graphically speaking) when the naturally occuring bacteria in the mouth (and some have more than others) eats the sugar that's been introduced to the mouth, be it by a sugary drink or bread or cereal or whatever has sugar in it, that bacteria does the same thing as people when they eat. Digest and excrete! What is the waste of the bacteria? ACID and that is what causes the enamel to break down and the inner, softer part of the tooth to begin to decay. High fructose corn syrup is a major contributor to tooth decay. Read labels, you'll be amazed at how many things have it as one of the first 3 ingredients

Flouride definately helps strengthen enamel aiding in the fight against the demineralization (breakdown of enamel) that occurs when the acid hits the enamel :D

Older people have more fillings because they had less flouride in their younger years. They also didn't have the knowledge about oral hygiene that we have now.

Sealants aren't a guarantee that the tooth will never get decay. They can leak. And they don't prevent decay from between the teeth. My daughters sealants fell off 3 times, so we gave up and she just takes really good care of her mouth (she's always been on well water and has NO cavities)

Great question Pearl

My partner is 32 and his sister is 33 neither of them has a filling!

Both their parents have dentures!

My partner brushes his teeth once a day at night, never uses mouthwash and never flosses, as well as eating sweets and having two sugars in his many drinks a day!

I am a diabetic, and have suffered with my teeth a lot over the years, most of my mouth is worringly metal. Being a diabetic when my blood sugars in my blood rise, my body dyhydrates, which in turn makes my saliva more acidic, this I have been told can also contribute to decay, the digestion juices from the stomach are very strong and can also attack the teeth.

So maybe it has something to do with how acidic someones saliva is.

I'm positive it has to do with genetics, I brush my teeth once sometimes twice a day and I have never had a cavity, when I had my wisdom teeth taken out my dentist told me they were cavity free

I absolutely agree that there is a genetic component!! My BIL just turned 40 and has also NEVER had a cavity and he eats whatever he wants, never flosses and only brushes his teeth in the morning (never at night). He also dips snuff everyday and still has perfect teeth. :rolleyes:

I have also read recently about a pair of identical twins that had the same dental work done in the same teeth. Now, what's the odds of that?

Kind of off topic here but I personally believe that more is genetic then we currently know. For instance, how many identical twins (same DNA) have you known that have varied substantially in weight (one being fat and the other thin)? The ones I have known have all been nearly the same size (give or take 5 pounds).

Just been to a dentist for the first time since about 7-8 years. Haven't flossed, been eating a lot of sweet snacks, junk food and such, and sometimes went almost a week without brushing my teeth.

My dentist told me I have no cavities and just filled 2 teeth.

Guess I'm one of the lucky ones :D

Hi GN85, I am confused your dentist told you that you had no cavities and then he filled two of your teeth? Why would he need to do that?

Not to be racist- but black people have the PRETTIEST WHITEST STRONGEST teeth!!!! I hate them- ha ha. For real genetics have to do with it- and not drinking yourself stupid either- They are also Not alcholics..Well. some of them in America are, BUT-You see them in africa eating some kind of husk-and I SCREAM to the TV-Yes you are hunted-yes you are killed- BUT DO YOU KNOW HOW PRETTY YOUR TEETH ARE???? And that I would KILL for your TEETH???? And I swear, I still would, too. hush hush, ok?? I WILL KILL FOR YOUR TEETH!!!!!! I am SO jelouse I cannot SEE straight!!