Our WhatsApp number cannot be used for calls. This is a chat only number.
Dental decay happens when bacteria in dental plaques and tartars damage your teeth. These bacteria convert the sugar from the food you consume into acids which causes decay. Although the primary stage of dental decay is reversible, the later ones can lead to permanent damage to your tooth.
If you have been diagnosed with decay in your tooth and want to know all about tooth decay, its causes, and treatment, this article will help you a lot.
Dental decay is a disease that happens to your tooth surface or the harder outer layer known as enamel. When bacteria and acids inside your mouth thrive on the food particles and debris stuck between your teeth, they cause cavities and decay. This might further lead to a dental abscess, tooth loss, infection, and severe toothache.
However, as you know what tooth decay is, you must also know that dental decay happens in stages. Therefore, starting the treatment procedure during the primary phase is necessary to avoid further damage and severe dental problem.
If you do not clean, brush or floss your teeth regularly and properly, plaque starts to build up on your teeth. Over time, it hardens to form tartar, which is hard to remove and causes dental decay. Here are the five stages of the condition’s development:
Your teeth's outer layer or the enamel is made of minerals. So, when your teeth are exposed to bacteria that produce acids, they start losing minerals. You might notice a white spot on your teeth. This is a primary sign of dental decay.
The enamel of your teeth further breaks down when the process of dental decay continues. Then, this white spot on your teeth tends to turn into a brownish tinge. Your enamel further weakens, and you might notice minor holes in your teeth. These are dental caries or cavities that damage your teeth completely if not treated in time.
Underlying your enamel is the dentin, a tissue softer than enamel. Dentin is more prone to damage due to acids and bacteria. This results in a faster decay of teeth. Additionally, dentin has tubules that connect to the teeth’s nerves. Therefore, when bacteria affect dentine, you might experience sensitivity, especially when you are eating and drinking hot or cold food.
The innermost layer of your teeth is the pulp which consists of blood vessels and nerves that keep your teeth healthy. In addition, when there is any damage to your pulp, it might swell. Since the tissues surrounding your teeth cannot expand due to swelling, this causes pressure on the nerves causing severe pain.
As the dental decay progresses towards your pulp, other bacteria might infect it and cause further complications. This leads to increased inflammation in your teeth and might lead to pus discharge at the bottom of your enamel. This is known as a dental abscess. Dental abscesses cause extreme toothache that might lead to pain in your jaw. Tooth abscesses require immediate treatment since they can spread further to your bones and other parts of your mouth, worsening the situation.
The things that cause tooth decay are as follows:
According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, when you have early stages of dental decay, you might not notice any symptoms at all. However, the following are the common signs and symptoms of tooth decay:
You must visit your dentist when you experience severe pain and discomfort inside your mouth for several days. Here is how they will diagnose dental decay:
Step 1: Your dentist might ask you about your signs and symptoms to understand if the problem is due to dental decay.
Step 2: They may then conduct an X-ray of your mouth to detect the extent of decay or cavity.
Step 3: If dental decay occurs, your doctor will suggest any further solution or treatment procedure.
There are several treatments for tooth decay. They include:
Fluoride treatment ensures strengthening your enamels and repairing the dental damage that happens due to decay in a tooth. The fluoride comes in the form of a foam, gel, solution, or varnish. As your dentist applies fluoride treatments on your teeth directly, they are quick to show results.
Dentists might suggest dental fillings to treat cavities. First, your dentist drills your tooth to remove decay and shapes the cavity properly to ensure the filling fits well. Then, they use materials such as a dental composite or an amalgam to fill the hole.
When larger cavities affect your teeth health, they require dental crowns instead of dental fillings. Here, your dentist removes the external section of your tooth and the decay, making an impression of the enamel for the permanent crown. Then, they fit a temporary dental crown until you get the permanent one after a few weeks.
When the pulp of your tooth is damaged completely, your dentist might suggest root canal treatment to avoid tooth extraction. First, they numb the area around your tooth before removing the pulp. Then, they shape and clean the interior of your tooth and apply medicine to get rid of any bacteria. After this, they fill the canals with a substance and place a dental filling or a crown to restore it.
If the dental decay has caused extreme damage, tooth extraction is what your dentist might recommend. After numbing the damaged enamel, they will extract the tooth and suggest a post-extraction routine. However, you might notice swelling, bleeding or pain after extraction. If you notice any such symptoms, it is ideal to consult your dentist immediately.
Here are the ways how to prevent tooth decay:
So, now you must have a complete guide to tooth decay and how you should treat them. However, if your toothache persists, it is better to consult a dentist. Often severe conditions might lead to gingivitis or periodontitis, which require more extensive treatment. However, there is nothing to fear at all if you undergo treatment within time and take care of your teeth regularly.
Please try one more time!
Disclaimer #1: *Customer can choose options at the time of availing insurance. Premium amount may vary accordingly. Insured is required to disclose any pre-existing condition or on going treatment before policy issuance in the proposal form.
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.
Continue with {{bikeCtrl.lastVisitedData.lastVisitedUrl.indexOf('DigitPaymentGateway/payments')
!== -1 ? 'payment completion': 'previous choice'}}
