Do you remember the time when you used to eat lots of candies and your parents said ‘don’t eat too much, you’ll have cavities in your teeth’? That’s true! Cavities are also known as tooth decay which is basically permanently damaged areas in the teeth that develop into small holes.
These cavities are caused by factors such as frequent snacking, drinking sugary drinks, and not cleaning your teeth well. If aren’t treated right, cavities can get larger and affect deeper layers of your teeth which can lead to toothache, infection and tooth loss. And after the tooth loss, you will need to get dental implants!
Symptoms
As mentioned earlier, the causes of cavities vary depending on their extent and location. When a tooth starts to decay, you won’t have any symptoms at all, but as the decay grows larger and larger, it may cause:
- Toothache, pain that occurs without any cause
- Sensitive tooth
- Sharp pain while eating or drinking hot or cold
- Visible holes
- Brown or white stains on the surface
- Feels pain when biting down
Causes
Here’s how tooth decay develops:
Plaque occur
Plaque is a clear sticky film that starts to coat your teeth. This happens because of eating sugary and starchy foods and not cleaning your teeth properly. These sugars and starch aren’t cleaned properly, bacteria tends to grow which starts feeding on them and form plaque.
Plaque strikes
The acid in the plaque dissolves the hard enamel layer which then causes small holes or openings. Once the enamel is worn away, the bacteria reach the next layer called dentin. This is soft than enamel and has tiny tubes that communicate with the nerve causing sensitivity.
Demolition continues
After the dentin, the bacteria continue to move next to inner tooth material (pulp) that contains nerves and blood vessels. After that pulp gets swollen and irritated from the bacteria. You start to feel the pain because there is no space for the swelling to expand.
Prevention
Good and oral hygiene can help you avoid cavities. Although if you sharp pain then you need to consult an emergency dentist as soon as possible.
Brush twice a day
Dentists suggest brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
Rinse
If the risk of getting a cavity is high, start rinsing your mouth with a fluoride mouth wash.
Regular dental checkups
Get your teeth professionally cleaned and orally examined by dentists on regular basis to prevent tooth decay and cavities. Your dentist can recommend a schedule when you have to visit them.
Resource URL: https://tarneitdentalcare.wordpress.com/2020/11/30/how-to-avoid-tooth-decay-and-its-causes/
Are you going to opt for dental implants treatment?
Here, we have listed 5 things that you should ask your dentist about dental implants before getting treatment.
