All About radiation Caries

If you’re dealing with radiation therapy, oral health is probably not the focus. But radiation does cause caries, which is basically tooth decay after treatment. Caries or tooth decay do end up becoming cavities, and it has serious repercussions on the oral health that you have. Here are different questions to ask yourself if you’re wondering whether or not you’re going to have radiation caries. 

What are the Signs 

They usually are similar to normal tooth decay in that the symptoms don’t get noticeable until they become much more serious over time. usually, your teeth get sensitive, and you feel pain or sensitivity along the teeth affected due to the decay. This does get more rampant with time, which is why you notice symptoms with more than just one tooth. 

The causes 

This is possible because of the plaque which accumulates within the teeth, producing acids that eat away at the surface of the teeth. The process plays a major role in radiation caries, and according to the national cancer institute, when you do subject your dental area to radiation, these changes do make you more susceptible to the decay of your teeth. 

Because radiation dries out the mouth, you may have your mouth become very dry. Not only that, but the lack of saliva does also cause this to be a problem for the bacteria you want to control, and you won’t be able to mineralize the teeth. 

How it’s prevented 

If you get high dosages of radiation, you’re at risk of this. The best way to prevent this is for twice a day, brush your teeth, clean between the teeth once a day with a flossing device. If the gums are due because of radiation therapy, you might need to get a soft-bristled type of toothbrush so they’re not further irritated. 

You should also control the dry mouth that’s going on, and this can be done through the following: 

• Sipping water during the day 

• Chewing gum which is sugar free 

• Utilizing commercial products including fake saliva as a supplement for this 

The dentist may also ask for you to get treatments in office as well for this. 

Dental Treatment of This 

If you do have dental caries out there, you can treat it with fillings, crowns, another restorations if they’re too decayed. You may need filings if the day is small, but crowns are for areas which are definitely much larger and they have more compromised tooth structure. 

In some cases, if you don’t treat this, it does lead to infections of abscesses, so you need to get that out immediately. 

In general, you should not miss your office appointments that you have with the dentist. It’s something that a lot of people are definitely happy about and are able to really build and enjoy. There was a lot of great benefits to this, and a lot that you’ll definitely want to benefit from as well. 

For a lot of people, this can be something good for them, and it can help with the care that they need during all of this. If you ever do of course, notice that your teeth are more sensitive and that they hurt to touch, don’t hesitate. Talk to your doctor right away to see what you can do to get the help that you need and deserve from this, and also what you’re able to do as well to help with the stressors that may be causing this. 

Radiation caries aren’t rare, but they can be prevented with the proper treatments rendered to the patient there.