One of the most common dental problems is dental cavity which, if left untreated, might lead to dental infections, tooth decay, and severe toothache. Over time, dental cavities might expand and affect the deeper layers of your enamel. Therefore, regular dental visits and good care of your oral health are necessary.
If you have a dental cavity and want to gain information on the same before visiting your dentist, this article is the answer. In this piece, we will discuss all about the tooth cavity, its causes, and treatment procedures.
Dental cavities are holes in your teeth that form when bacteria, acids, plaque, and tartar in your mouth wear down your tooth's enamel. Also known as dental caries, they cause tooth decay and damage. This can further cause severe toothache and might lead to tooth extraction.
Cavities happen due to poor dental hygiene and can occur at any age. Therefore, regular brushing, flossing, and visiting your dentist is a must as this will prevent dental caries.
A cavity might affect all the layers of your tooth. However, it takes time for a cavity to form in the enamel or the strong outer layer of your teeth. It progresses relativelyfaster through your dentin to the pulp, thus damaging your teeth. Here are the types of dental caries:
The pit and fissure decay develop from a tender age and progresses as you grow. As a result, dental caries or cavities might commonly form on your tooth's upper chewing surface. It might also affect the front section of your back teeth.
Cavity grows slowly and dissolves your tooth's enamel, wearing down its smooth surface. So, you might notice broken and chipped teeth which seem aesthetically unpleasant. Often you will see people at the age of twenty experiencing this type of dental caries in between their enamels.
If you have older adults at home, you will notice they have receding gumlines susceptible to tooth-root decay. Receding gums expose your tooth to acid and plaque. However, if you have decay in your teeth, it is hard to treat.
Here are the common causes of dental caries:
The signs and symptoms of dental caries are diagnosed depending on their location and severity. At an early stage, you might not develop any symptoms at all. But as the cavity gets larger, you will notice the following:
Furthermore, cavities can be diagnosed at a dental clinic when:
Some tips to prevent cavities are:
Brushing after meals twice a day using fluoride-based toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush will help deeply clean your teeth. In addition, you can use an interdental cleaner to clean and floss in between your teeth.
When your dentist detects that you have a higher risk of cavity attacks, he will suggest you use fluoride-based mouthwash for rinsing. Rinse your mouth properly after every meal. You can also use lukewarm saltwater to rinse your mouth.
A dental sealant is a protective plastic coat your dentist applies to your teeth to help you chew. Dental sealants seal the corners and pits of your teeth that collect food debris. Thus, plaque and acid do not attack the enamel.
You must avoid food and drinks that contain sugar and starch to prevent bacteria from thriving on them. However, you can have unsweetened beverages such as tea and coffee.
Visiting your dentist regularly will ensure you get professional dental cleanings and regular oral check-ups. This will ward off the chances of cavity attacks or any other dental disease.
Tooth cavity treatment includes the following:
Dental fillings include a single or a combination of materials used for teeth restoration, such as metals, plastics, glass, etc. An effective cavity treatment, dental fillings fill up the area of your tooth that is affected by cavity.
Dental crowns are small tooth-shaped caps to cover up your damaged tooth. Crowns can be made of metal or porcelain and maintain the shape, size, strength, and appearance of your enamel.
Your dentist might suggest a root canal procedure when cavities damage the tooth nerves. Here, they remove the blood vessel tissues, decayed sections of your tooth, and the nerve tissue. After checking for infections, your dentist will recommend medicines to you accordingly.
If your dentist discovers a cavity in your teeth at an early stage, they might suggest fluoride treatment to ensure restoration of your enamel. This will reduce the chances of further tooth decay.
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Disclaimer #2: This information is added only for informative purposes and collected from different sources across the Internet. Digit Insurance is not promoting or recommending anything here. Please verify the information before making any decisions.
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