A cavity is an area of the tooth that is permanently damaged. While cavities start off small and may not cause you any pain, they can worsen over time, become more painful, and even become infected to the point where a root canal is required in order to save the tooth. If a cavity gets bad enough, a patient might develop a gaping hole in their tooth.
Many patients think that drinking sugary drinks and eating a lot of candy are responsible for cavities, but in reality, these factors are only part of the problem. Cavities actually develop when patients don’t brush their teeth enough (or correctly) or floss, and since bacteria that resides in the mouth thrives on particles that are stuck in the teeth, sugar is just the most common cause of tooth decay.
If you still get cavities despite taking good care of your teeth and keeping sugars to a minimum, then you may or may not be surprised to find out that your genetics are another factor that can cause frequent tooth decay. Genetically, some patients are just more prone to cavities.