Everything You Need To Know About Dental Cavities
What is a tooth cavity?
A tooth cavity is a bacterial disease that causes tooth layers to break down, creating holes in the teeth. Poor home care, a diet full of carbohydrates and sugars, prolonged exposure of these substances on the teeth, and a dry mouth are all contributing factors for tooth cavities.
Activated bacteria in the mouth use plaque to produce acid that destroys the tooth enamel, creating an entrance into the tooth. After the enamel breaks down, the cavity progresses faster inside the tooth, leading to pain and infection.
Is not brushing teeth the only reason for cavities?
Several reasons can lead to cavities forming in the teeth. One of the main reasons is not brushing and flossing teeth, along with eating too much sugar and carbohydrates over a long period during the day, and dry mouth conditions.
How worried should I be about a cavity?
If you suspect having a tooth cavity, I recommend seeking dental help as soon as possible. The fact that you suspect a cavity suggests you probably have symptoms or see holes or dark spots inside your teeth. Most people are quite in tune with their health and can tell if there's something wrong.
Is it too late if a cavity hurts?
If a cavity hurts, it is time to seek dental care. There are different types of pain and discomfort that cavities can cause. If you're experiencing sensitivity to sweets, it's likely a smaller cavity that can be fixed with a filling.
If you're experiencing pain that keeps you up at night, or swelling or redness, it indicates a more serious condition and requires immediate intervention. In some cases, teeth can be saved with root canals and crowns. In other cases, they require extraction.
How are cavities treated by a dentist?
Cavities can be treated by the dentist depending on the stage of the cavity process. Treatment can range from doing nothing and improving home care and diet to the extreme of tooth removal.
Generally, smaller cavities can be fixed with a filling. Cavities that infect the nerves inside the teeth require root canals and crowns, and cavities that extend inside the bone around the teeth, in past accumulation, require tooth removal.
Once a cavity has been filled, can it come back?
Yes, after a tooth has been filled, a cavity can come back. Decay can form around or under the existing filling, close to the gum area, or the chewing surfaces of the teeth if home care is not improved. Tooth cavities can also form around or under existing crowns.
How can I prevent oral cavities?
To prevent cavities, several things need to be done. Good home care, including flossing and brushing daily after breakfast and before bedtime, is essential. Reducing sugar and carbohydrate exposure during the day and managing dry mouth are also important.
How can I schedule a dental exam and cavity treatment?
If you suspect a cavity, please do not hesitate to contact a dental office. Request a dental checkup with X-rays first to ensure that a dentist can diagnose your condition properly. After the diagnosis, the dentist will advise you on treatment to help preserve your teeth.
What causes tooth cavities?
Cavities are caused by bacteria in the mouth activated by excessive plaque due to poor home care and excessive exposure to sugar, carbohydrates, and acids. A dry mouth is also a significant factor in the cavity process.
Bacteria utilize sugar and carbohydrates for growth and produce acid as a byproduct. This acid breaks down the enamel, the outer layer of the tooth structure, and invades the inner, softer tooth structures.
How does a dentist check for cavities?
A dentist checks for cavities using X-rays, visual cues, and special light devices. All these modalities are used to diagnose different stages of cavity progression inside the teeth.
What are the stages of a cavity?
There are several stages of cavity progression inside the teeth. The first stage is the demineralization process or white spot lesions, a reversible stage. Combined with good home care and reduced sugar and carbohydrate exposure, this stage can be reversed.
Enamel decay occurs when the cavity breaks through the outer layer of the tooth, creating a hole and causing dark spots. This process is irreversible and requires a filling.
The next stage is dentin decay. As the cavity progresses, it reaches the deeper tooth layer called dentin, a softer structure, accelerating decay progression. This stage also requires a filling and treatment.
Pulp infection occurs when further cavity progression infects the nerve inside the tooth, causing extreme pain. This stage requires a root canal and a crown to save the tooth or, in some cases, extraction.
The final process is an abscess, an infection inside the bone surrounding the tooth area, causing pus accumulation, pain, swelling, and a life-threatening condition. At this stage, extraction is often recommended.
Can the cavity spread to other teeth?
A cavity can absolutely spread to other teeth since it is a bacterial disease. We often see adjacent teeth infected by the cavity, especially when cavities are between the teeth or in the flossing areas.
Is it possible for cavities to go away?
Yes, some cavities can be stopped. It is possible at the early demineralization stage of enamel or the white spot lesion to reverse it. This can be achieved by flossing and brushing teeth daily, combined with reducing exposure to sugars and carbohydrates. If a patient has a dry mouth, it's very difficult to stop cavity progression.
How do you stop a cavity from progressing?
To stop a cavity from progressing, it should be in the more superficial tooth layer and accessible. The best way to stop cavity progression is to improve daily home care by flossing, brushing twice a day, and reducing exposure to sugars and carbohydrates.
How long do cavity fillings last?
Cavity fillings can last for decades, depending on the materials used, operator experience, patient's home care, and the teeth's biting forces.
Can dental cleanings prevent cavities?
Yes, dental cleanings can and do prevent cavities. Regular dental cleanings help to reduce plaque on the teeth, which is the main source of cavity-causing bacteria. We have several patients who lose their ability to brush their teeth effectively, often due to advanced age or illnesses.
In such cases, we clean their teeth every three months to help maintain their dental health. We notice a significant reduction in cavities in these cases.
What should I do if I suspect I have a cavity?
If you see dark spots on your teeth, holes, experience sensitivity to sweets, temperatures, or biting forces, or if you have pain, you should schedule a dental checkup. Dental cavities can lead to infections, tooth loss, and life-threatening conditions.
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