Tooth decay is one of the most common oral health problems faced by adults and children in the U.S. While the cause of this health issue could easily be linked to the food we consume or our oral hygiene routines, there are a few environmental factors that could also lead to tooth decay. One of the most elusive culprits is black mold.
This type of pathogen can affect a person’s overall health in addition to their oral health. It often forms in damp environments such as a kitchen or bathroom. While it might not be immediately present by your toothbrush, utensils or food items, mold spores can easily travel throughout your home if the sources of growth are not properly managed.
What is black mold?
The term “black mold” refers to several species of mold that are dark green or black in appearance, and these molds thrive in warm and often moist places, such as kitchens, basements, showers, tubs, and toilets.
Allergies are one of the main hazards that molds can trigger. These can cause things like congestion, coughing, and sneezing, along with stronger reactions among people suffering from asthma or having weakened immune systems.
In addition to these respiratory issues, it may surprise you to learn that black mold can also contribute to tooth decay in both adults and children.
Statistics gathered by the CDC indicate that approximately 26 percent of adults have untreated tooth decay. Additionally, 1 in 5 children have at least one tooth affected by tooth decay.
While black mold can be an environmental cause of tooth decay, there are several more common factors to consider. Just a few of these include the consumption of too much sugar in our diets, inadequate or inconsistent dental hygiene at home, and the failure to make twice-yearly visits to the dentist for a professional cleaning and examination of your teeth.
The effects of black mold on teeth
When black mold accumulates in clusters in your home, the fungus produces toxic spores known as mycotoxins, and when inhaled, these spokes produce the kinds of symptoms we’ve mentioned – congestion, runny noses, sneezing, and coughing.
Congestion, in turn, can cause you to breathe through your mouth, drying up your saliva and creating a dry mouth. And the shortage of saliva leads to the formation of plaque that coats your teeth and contributes to tooth decay.
Black mold and sippy cups
For young children, sippy cups can be another source of black mold and tooth decay. The good news for parents is that sippy cups help prevent messy spills by keeping the liquids your child is drinking sealed inside the cup. The bad news is that these cups have many hard-to-clean crevices that traps moisture and allows mold to grow.
When your child drinks from a contaminated sippy cup, this allows a fungus known as candida to enter the mouth, where it can contribute to tooth decay and other oral problems. Similarly, mold can also accumulate in the crevices of travel mugs.
Consuming mold not only leads to tooth decay and oral health problems, but it can also cause a number of other issues for our heart, lungs, immune system and brain.
How To Remove Black Mold From Sippy Cups and Travel Mugs
How can you prevent or remove mold in travel mugs or sippy cups? The key is to clean them frequently and thoroughly using vinegar, boiling water, or steam sterilization. While most of our kitchen utensils are listed as dishwasher safe, leaving travel mugs or supply cups in this damp environment can promote further mold growth inside them as well as on your other dishware.
You can protect your child’s teeth by cleaning sippy cups thoroughly by hand.
How To Deal With Black Mold In Other Parts Of Your Home
At Reilly & Siegel Family Dental, the health of you and your family is our utmost concern. If you find yourself dealing with a black mold problem in your home, we urge you to follow the guidelines provided by FEMA in dealing with this problem.
Further, if you or any member of your family is suffering from severe breathing issues, you should go to the nearest emergency room immediately for treatment. Then schedule a follow-up appointment with your primary care physician to deal with any lingering issues related to black mold.
Finally, we urge you to faithfully practice home dental hygiene – two brushings and one flossing daily – and schedule a cleaning and dental exam every six months.
Take special care of your overall health at home and prevent mold growth.
Your Family Dentist in Round Lake, IL
At Reilly & Siegel, we practice a number of specialized dental care services to help you achieve your smile goals. From general and cosmetic dentistry to restorative and family dentistry, our dental team will offer you thorough guidance and options to take care of your teeth.
We’re here to serve the dental needs of the residents of Round Lake Beach and its surrounding communities. We urge you to contact us to schedule your next appointment.
