Im 16 and Ive never had a cavity or had anything done to my teeth. I was just wondering if this normal or common.

Hi, duzemonkey!

I'm not the dentistry expert here, and I'm sure that Flossie will be along eventually to address yours question. I would like to say though, that I do admire the fact that you have never had a cavity.

I'm pretty sure that there isn't a tooth in my mouth that hasn't been worked on by a dentist in order to drill and fill with a filling or two...

According to what I have observed, I don't thing that it's unusual, especially at your age. I have asked a number of people over the years about the great teeth that they have, and why they have such great looking and, apparently flawless teeth.

Part of it's a matter of hereditary traits, another thing that matters is how well people do take care of there teeth. In my family, there is the tendency for us not to have really strong teeth.

There may be more reasons, though...

Like I've already mentioned, I'm sure that Flossie will be able to tell you more, once she gets around to addressing your post.

Thanks!

duzemonkey,

You are very lucky! There are many kids who make it through life cavity free. This is due to the use of toothpaste with fluoride, fluoride added to community drinking water and increased parental awareness of healthy snacking and better home care.

I would guess that your mom may not have had many fillings done in her life.

Babies are born without any of the harmful bacteria that causes decay in their mouth, and studies have proven that moms (rather than dads) typically infect their children before age 2. It happens when you transfer your saliva into your child's mouth -- by repeatedly eating from the same spoon as your baby, for example, or letting your toddler brush his teeth with your toothbrush. And if you've frequently had cavities yourself, you're particularly likely to pass the germs along. Once a child's mouth has become colonized with mutans, he'll be prone to cavities in his baby and permanent teeth that can cause pain and difficulty eating. "It's an old wives' tale that 'soft teeth' run in families, but what's really passed along in families are high levels of decay-causing bacteria.

In fact, 80 percent of all cavities occur in just 25 percent of kids. The key role that bacteria plays in decay may also explain why some kids who eat tons of candy or never floss are lucky enough to avoid dental problems.

Don't let the fact that you've never had to have dental work go to your head though. If you have a low decay risk you may have a higher risk for periodontal disease (bone loss) in your adult years.

You should still see a dentist once a year to stay healthy.

Some of the old geezers around didn't have fluoride growing up, so they have mouths full of work... the fluoride generation generally are more resistant to decay.. keep brushing and flossing

I am in my 30s and have never had a cavity. However, I do have excessive plaque build up. As my dentist explained it, you are either prone to cavities or prone to plaque - but my case is to the extreme. I get my teeth cleaned 4 times a year instead of two because excessive plaque contributes to gum disease.