Tooth Decay: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

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.

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What Is Tooth Decay?

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.

What Are the Stages of Tooth Decay?

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:

Stage 1: Demineralisation

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.

Stage 2: Decay in Enamel

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.

Stage 3: Dentin Decay

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.

Stage 4: Damage to Pulp

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.

Stage 5: Dental Abscess

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.

What Causes Dental Decay?

The things that cause tooth decay are as follows:

If you are not brushing and flossing your teeth regularly, this will lead to a plaque on your teeth, causing decay and damage.
Bacteria that thrive on plaques use starch and sugar from the food you consume to make acids. These acids wear down the minerals in your enamel to cause dental decay.
When plaque hardens into tartar, it becomes difficult to remove and irritates your gums and teeth. This is a major cause of gum disease and dental decay.
Cavities or dental caries are small holes that weaken or destroy your enamel, leading to dental decay.
According to research, dry mouth can cause decay in your tooth too. A dry mouth or thrush is a condition when you lack saliva inside your mouth. This doesn’t allow the food particles to wash away naturally, causing tooth decay.
If dental fillings, crowns, and sealants wear out, they expose the layers of your teeth, causing decay and damage.
If you have an eating disorder such as bulimia or anorexia, this might lead to dental decay.

What Are the Symptoms of Dental Decay?

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:

Severe and constant toothache while having food or drinks that are cold or hot.
White, brownish, or dark stains and spots on your teeth.
Cavities in your teeth.
Persistent bad breath doesn't seem to go away even after brushing or flossing your teeth.
Red and swollen gums that might bleed and cause extreme toothache.
Loose dental fillings that irritate your mouth.
A dental abscess that causes toothache and facial swelling leading to fever.

How to Diagnose Dental 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.

What Are the Treatments for Dental Decay?

There are several treatments for tooth decay. They include:

1. Fluoride Treatment

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.

2. Dental Fillings

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.

3. Dental Crowns

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.

4. Root Canal Treatment

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.

5. Teeth Extraction

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.

How to Prevent Dental Decay?

Here are the ways how to prevent tooth decay:

Ensure you receive enough fluoride by using fluoride-based toothpaste or rinsing your mouth with the same.
Try to practice proper oral care by brushing and flossing your mouth and teeth twice daily and after every meal.
Limit consumption of sweets that are rich in sugar and starch. This will eliminate the chances of bacteria thriving on them.
Quit using tobacco and products related to the same.
Dental sealants prevent food particles from getting trapped inside and between the teeth.
Visit your dentist regularly for professional dental cleanings and check-ups twice a year. This will prevent underlying dental diseases, if any, apart from dental decays.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Can my child use dental sealants to avoid dental decay?

Yes, you can allow your child to get dental sealants on teeth as these are protective layers and can prevent their teeth from dental decay. However, you must consult your doctor before taking such a decision so that they decide whether your child needs one.

What happens if I do not treat my dental decay?

Oral hygiene is an essential part to prevent tooth decay. Ignoring it will lead to infection in your enamel, swelling, and bleeding, worsening the condition. This might also lead to loss of teeth or teeth extraction.