Cavities are a form of tooth decay where bacteria generate acids, destroying the enamel of the tooth, and the dentin underneath it. you might wonder about what these normally entail. Well, we have a little more to tell you about cavities, and why they are no good.
Signs and Symptoms of Cavities
Most of the time, you do know when you might have problems. The first, is your teeth hurt, aching a little bit. The second, is there’s activity when it comes to sweet, hot, and cold drinks. The third, is a pain when chewing.
Cavity Causes
The main reason for cavities is because we don’t take care of our teeth and are eating too many sugary foods.
While the mouth houses a wealth of bacteria, building up sticky film called plaque happens when the bad bacteria eat a whole bunch of sugars.
When we drink and eat certain foods, the bacteria create what’s called acids. These dissolve the protective elements beneath the plaque that’s retained. The acids remove various minerals directly from the enamel. When not treated, cavities form.
The decay then happens in the major parts of your mouth known as the enamel, and the enamel then gets further brown down as decay gets further into the dentin, eventually reaching the tooth pulp. That of course, can lead to some major damage and possible removal of the tooth.
Diagnosis and Prevention
The easiest way to diagnose these cavities is by looking at the surface of the tooth. X-rays also help to see where the cavity goes, and how far into the pulp or dentin of your teeth.
If there is one, you will need treatments, but there are different ways to help you with preventing this.
The first is to brush and floss these on a daily basis. It reduces the amount of plaque that builds up in the mouth on the daily.
The second, is to eat less starchy and sugary foods as often, in order to reduce the acids that damage the teeth in the mouth.
When brushing, utilize a fluoride toothpaste. This will strengthen the teeth. The treatments also provided by dentists, or utilizing fluoride supplements are further recommended too.
Try to use mouth rinses that are antibacterial, in order to reduce the bacteria that’s responsible for activities.
Finally, if you have gum, chewing gum with xylitol in there also decreases the overall bacterial growth of the area, and can make things easier on you.
Treatments for Cavities
Most of the time, treatments involve filling in the cavity especially if the enamel isn’t able to be fixed. If you have a chance, get sealants early to prevent this.
If it gets serious, you might need a root canal.
Children can get the baby molars and later on those permanent molars sealed. The fluoride varnish on both the permanent and primary teeth protect you from decay.
When not treated, it actually can cause significant decay. Eventually, the decay, when left uncontrolled, permanently destroys the teeth. There is also the possibility of an abscess developing as infection spreads to the tooth root.
The cavities that occur are a result of poor hygiene and retained dental plaque. The specific bacteria can also hit the gum line, causing gum disease in the mouth, which at that point, you’ll need a periodontist to treat. because they can penetrate the mouth, they may also create nerve damage too if you’re not careful.
Simply put, with cavities, treating them right will eventually lead to prevention. Utilizing preventative care stops the worst of the damage from happening and builds better dental health.
