How many people get cavities average?

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• On this page
• Dental Caries in the Permanent (Adult) Teeth
• Table 1. Percent of Adults with Caries in the Permanent Teeth
• Table 2. Percent of Adults with Untreated Decay in the Permanent Teeth
• Table 3. Adults, Severity of Decay Measured by Number of Permanent Teeth Affected
• How Are Cavities Diagnosed?
• What Percentage of People Have Cavities?
• How Can I Prevent Cavities?
• How many cavities does an average person have?
• How common is it to get a cavity?
• How often do most people get cavities?
• Are cavities normal at 20?
1. Dental Caries in the Permanent (Adult) Teeth
2. Table 1. Percent of Adults with Caries in the Permanent Teeth
3. Table 2. Percent of Adults with Untreated Decay in the Permanent Teeth
4. Table 3. Adults, Severity of Decay Measured by Number of Permanent Teeth Affected

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Dental Caries in the Permanent (Adult) Teeth

Note: Approximately 2% of adults ages 20 to 64 years have no teeth. This survey applies only to those adults who have teeth.

Dental caries, both treated and untreated, in the permanent teeth of all adults ages 20 to 64 years declined from the early 1970s until the most recent (2011–2016) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The decrease was significant in all population subgroups. In spite of this decline, significant disparities are still found in some population groups.

Prevalence (Table 1)

• Nearly 90% of adults ages 20 to 64 years have had decay in their teeth, a percentage that has not changed significantly between the 1999–2004 and 2011–2016 NHANES cycles.
• Older working-age adults 50 to 64 years had the greatest prevalence of decay (96%) in both NHANES cycles.
• Decay is more prevalent in people who currently smoke compared with those who never or formerly smoked.
• There was a slight decrease in decay prevalence among younger groups of adults and a significant decrease in white adults and for those with higher incomes and education between the two NHANES cycles.

Unmet Needs (Table 2)

• 1 in 4 adults ages 20 to 64 years have had untreated decay in both NHANES cycles.
• When compared to their counterparts, black and Mexican American adults, younger adults, those with lower incomes and less education, and those who currently smoke were more likely to have untreated decay.

Severity (Table 3)

• Adults ages 20 to 64 years had an average of 9.3 decayed, missing, or filled teeth in 2011–2016.
• Black and Mexican American subgroups and those with lower incomes and less education had more untreated decay compared to their counterparts.
• There was a significant decrease in the severity of tooth decay (DMFT) for nearly all adults of all ages between the two NHANES cycles.

Tables 1 through 3 present selected caries estimates in the permanent teeth for adults ages 20 to 64 years and for selected subgroups.

Units of Measure: Dental caries is measured by a dentist examining a person’s teeth and recording the ones with untreated decay, ones that are missing, and the ones with fillings. This provides four important numbers:

• DT (decayed teeth): this is the number of decayed teeth that have not been treated, which measures unmet need;
• MT (missing teeth): this is the number of missing teeth due to disease;
• FT (filled teeth): this is the number of decayed teeth that have been treated, which indicates access to dental care; and
• DMFT (decayed, missing, and filled teeth): this is the sum of DMT and FT, and is the measure of person’s total lifetime tooth decay.

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Table 1. Percent of Adults with Caries in the Permanent Teeth

Data Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Oral Health Surveillance Report: Trends in Dental Caries and Sealants, Tooth Retention, and Edentulism, United States, 1999–2004 to 2011–2016. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services; 2019.

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Table 2. Percent of Adults with Untreated Decay in the Permanent Teeth

Data Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Oral Health Surveillance Report: Trends in Dental Caries and Sealants, Tooth Retention, and Edentulism, United States, 1999–2004 to 2011–2016. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services; 2019.

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Table 3. Adults, Severity of Decay Measured by Number of Permanent Teeth Affected

Data Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Oral Health Surveillance Report: Trends in Dental Caries and Sealants, Tooth Retention, and Edentulism, United States, 1999–2004 to 2011–2016. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services; 2019.

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It’s likely that you or someone you know has had a cavity. In fact, you may be surprised to learn just how many people get cavities. But before we dive into the statistics, let’s learn a little more about what cavities are and how you get them.

A cavity is tooth decay, which occurs when your tooth’s enamel, the protective outer layer of your teeth, is destroyed. The way this happens is that your oral bacteria eat the sugar in the foods and drinks you consume and produce an acid byproduct that dissolves the minerals in your teeth. Cavities often form in between your teeth, along the gum line, near dental fillings, and in the pits and grooves in the teeth at the back of your mouth. If cavities are not treated, the decay can spread to neighboring teeth and into your tooth’s pulp, a bundle of nerves and blood vessels. At this point, you will require root canal therapy to preserve your tooth. But decayed and infected teeth that are too late to save will need to be extracted to protect your oral health.

How Are Cavities Diagnosed?

You may not realize you have a cavity because you don’t have any feeling in your enamel and therefore can’t tell when it’s decaying. However, severe tooth decay exposes the underlying dentin, which contains tiny tubes that connect to your tooth’s inner nerves, at which point you will feel pain and sensitivity. But because it’s so hard to detect cavities on your own, it’s important to get a dental exam every six months so we can check for cavities in your mouth. The way we do this is by looking at your dental X-rays and probing your teeth to look for any pits or any spots that feel too soft because the enamel has begun to dissolve.

What Percentage of People Have Cavities?

In a 2016 study, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that over 90% of adults in the United States have had a cavity. They also reported that 1 in 4 adults have cavities that are untreated. You should visit us at Paradigm Dental every six months to confirm whether or not your mouth is cavity-free! We will also clean your teeth of a sticky film of accumulated bacteria called plaque, and tartar, which is hardened plaque.

How Can I Prevent Cavities?

If you don’t want to be in the 25% of adults with untreated cavities, maintain a healthy diet high in fibrous fruits and vegetables and low in carbohydrates and sugars, brush your teeth twice a day using a fluoridated toothpaste for two minutes each time, floss at least once a day, and get a checkup and cleaning every six months at Paradigm Dental. Call us at (512) 992-2822 to schedule an appointment.

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How many cavities does an average person have?

How common is it to get a cavity?

How often do most people get cavities?

Are cavities normal at 20?