How To Tooth Decay Causes – Tooth decay is damage that occurs to your teeth, which can lead to cavities, dental abscesses, or even tooth loss. It is caused by the activity of certain species of bacteria that can live in dental plaque.
The bacteria in plaque can convert the sugars in your food into acids. If plaque builds up over time, these acids can begin to damage your teeth.
How To Tooth Decay Causes
Tooth decay occurs in several stages. Below, we’ll explore each of these stages, discuss how tooth decay is treated, and give you some tips on how to prevent it from happening.
Causes And Signs Of Damaged Fillings
Dental plaque is important for the tooth decay process. Plaque is a colorless, sticky film that covers the surface of your teeth. It is made up of bacteria, food particles and saliva.
If your teeth aren’t cleaned regularly, plaque can start to build up. It can also harden over time, forming something called tartar. The presence of tartar can help further protect bacteria, making them more difficult to eliminate.
The outer layer of your teeth is made up of a type of tissue called enamel. The enamel is the
However, when a tooth is exposed to acids produced by bacteria in dental plaque, the enamel begins to lose these minerals.
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When this happens, you may see a white spot appear on one of your teeth. This area of mineral loss is an early sign of tooth decay.
If the tooth decay process is allowed to continue, the enamel will break down further. You may notice that a white spot on a tooth darkens to a brownish color.
As the enamel weakens, small holes in your teeth called cavities or tooth decay can form. Cavities will need to be filled by your dentist.
Dentin is the tissue that lies under the enamel. It is softer than enamel, which makes it more susceptible to acid damage. For this reason, tooth decay progresses faster when it reaches the dentin.
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Dentin also contains tubes that lead to the nerves of the tooth. For this reason, when the dentin is affected by tooth decay, you may begin to experience sensitivity. You may notice this especially when consuming hot or cold foods or drinks.
The pulp is the innermost layer of your tooth. It contains the nerves and blood vessels that help keep the tooth healthy. The nerves present in the pulp also provide sensation to the tooth.
When the pulp is damaged, it can become irritated and begin to swell. Since the tissues surrounding the tooth cannot expand to accommodate this swelling, pressure can be put on the nerves. This can lead to pain.
As tooth decay progresses into the pulp, bacteria can invade and cause infection. Increased inflammation of the tooth can cause a pocket of pus to form at the bottom of the tooth, called an abscess.
The Tooth Decay Process: How To Reverse It And Avoid A Cavity
Dental abscesses can cause severe pain that can radiate into the jawbone. Other symptoms that may be present include swelling of the gums, face or jaw, fever and swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
A dental abscess requires prompt treatment, as the infection can spread to the jaw bones as well as other areas of the head and neck. In some cases, treatment may involve removing the affected tooth.
To suffer from tooth decay than adults. In fact, the enamel of a child’s milk teeth is thinner and more sensitive than the enamel of adults.
As in adults, tooth decay occurs when bacteria break down sugars into acids, which damages dental tissues.
The 6 Main Causes Of Cavities
For this reason, it is important to ensure that your child does not consume too many sugary foods or drinks and brushes his teeth regularly.
Even if baby teeth eventually disappear, it is still vital to keep them healthy. Not only do children need milk teeth for chewing and speaking, but they also act as placeholders for adult teeth. If baby teeth are lost too early due to decay, adult teeth may not grow properly.
The images below illustrate the different stages of tooth decay. You will see that as the tooth decay progresses, more and more of the tissues of the tooth are affected.
The recommended treatment for tooth decay may depend on its stage. Let’s look at the different treatment options based on the progression of tooth decay.
Sign Of Cavities, Causes, Prevention, Types And How To Treat?
This early stage of tooth decay can actually be reversed before more permanent damage occurs. This can be achieved by treating the teeth with fluoride.
You can receive fluoride treatment at your dentist’s office. It is often applied to your teeth as a gel or varnish. Fluoride works to strengthen enamel, making it more resistant to acids produced by plaque bacteria.
Fluoride can also be found in certain types of toothpaste and is often present in tap water. In regards to
During a filling, your dentist will first use a tool to clean out the areas of decay. They will then fill the hole with a material such as resin, ceramic or dental amalgam. This material is usually the same color as your tooth.
Most Common Symptoms Of Tooth Decay
Since dentin is softer than enamel, decay moves faster when it reaches this stage. If identified early, tooth decay can be treated with a filling. In more advanced cases, the placement of a crown may be necessary.
A crown is a coating that covers the top part of your tooth above the gumline (also called the crown of the tooth). The decayed area is removed before the crown is placed. Some healthy tooth tissue may also be removed to ensure that the crown fits your tooth well.
When tooth decay has reached the pulp, you will often need a root canal. In a root canal, the damaged pulp is removed. The dental cavity is then cleaned and filled. A crown is placed on the affected tooth.
If an abscess has formed in your tooth, your dentist will likely perform a root canal to remove the infection and seal the tooth. In severe cases, the affected tooth may need to be removed completely.
Tooth Decay: Why It Happens & What You Can Do About It
Practicing good oral hygiene is an important part of preventing tooth decay. Below are some strategies you can implement to prevent your teeth from being damaged by tooth decay.
If tooth decay is in its early stages, you may not experience any symptoms. This is why regular visits to your dentist are important. Your dentist can help you identify and treat the early stages of tooth decay before they get worse.
Make an appointment with your dentist if you experience tooth sensitivity, tooth pain, or swelling in or around your mouth. These may be signs of the later stages of tooth decay or another dental condition that needs attention.
Tooth decay is damage that affects your teeth due to the activity of bacteria present in dental plaque. These bacteria turn the sugars in your food into acids, which can damage your teeth.
Don’t Get Surprised By Cavities!
There are five stages of tooth decay. The earliest stage is often reversible, but later stages can cause permanent damage to an affected tooth.
The treatment of tooth decay depends on its stage. Some examples of potential treatments include fluoride treatments, fillings, and root canals.
There are steps you can take to help prevent tooth decay. These include brushing your teeth at least twice a day, avoiding sugary foods and seeing your dentist regularly.
Has strict sourcing guidelines and is backed by peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutes and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and up-to-date by reading our editorial policy. Also called tooth decay, or tooth decay, it occurs when bacteria living in your mouth make acid that begins to break down your teeth. Bacteria in your mouth turn sugar and starches into acids.
Does Oatmeal Cause Tooth Decay?
Bacteria, acids, food particles and saliva combine to form plaque, which adheres to your teeth, usually just above the gum line, within just 20 minutes after eating.
If not removed, this plaque turns into tartar. Plaque and tartar can irritate your gums, causing gingivitis or possibly periodontal disease. The gums begin to harbor more bacteria.
The acids in plaque damage your enamel, creating cavities in your teeth. Untreated tooth decay leads to infection, extreme pain and eventually tooth loss.
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The decay process begins with imperceptible damage to your tooth enamel, then steadily progresses to the dentinal layer, eventually leading to the pulp.
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