We all have plaque on our teeth, which contains thousands of different kinds of bacteria. These bacteria, believe it or not, love sugary foods and drinks more than we do! When the bacteria mix with sugar, they create an acid that starts to eat away at your tooth enamel and can create a little hole, which is called a cavity. The plaque, bacteria, and acid will continue to erode your enamel until your dentist cleans out the plaque and fills in the hole. This procedure is called a filling. Unfortunately, there is no way to rid our mouths of the bacteria that cause cavities, but there are some ways to prevent a cavity from forming. Of course, brushing and flossing regularly will help keep your mouth clean, and eating healthy foods can eliminate some of the sugars you would be receiving from less healthy food. One preventive method that might surprise you is chewing sugarless gum after you eat. Gum chewing produces more saliva, which reduces the amount of acid left in your mouth after a meal.