Cavities: the word strikes fear in all who hear it. Put simply, when your teeth are frequently exposed to acid, sugars, starches, and bacteria, they can become permanently damaged with cavities. These tiny holes could also be the result of improper oral hygiene, and they can only be treated by your dentist. Left untreated, the holes will grow bigger and begin decaying deeper layers of your teeth, causing more problems, like a toothache, infection, and tooth loss.