Your teeth can become damaged by tooth decay, which has the potential to cause cavities, dental abscesses, or even tooth loss. It is brought on by specific bacterial species that can reside in tooth plaque.
Defining tooth decay
Damage to your tooth’s enamel surface is known as tooth decay. It occurs when oral bacteria produce acids that wear away the enamel. Cavities are holes in your teeth that can result from tooth decay. Dental decay can result in discomfort, infection, and even tooth loss without treatment.
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Tooth decay reasons
There are plenty of tooth decay reasons you will find on the internet. We have lots of microorganisms in our mouths. Some microorganisms are advantageous. However, some of them, like the ones that contribute to dental decay, can be hazardous. Plaque is a sticky, squishy layer made of these microorganisms and food. The bacteria use the starch and sugar in your food and drink in plaque to produce acids.
The minerals on your enamel start to deteriorate due to the acids. The plaque may eventually become tartar. Plaque and tartar can irritate your gums, lead to gum disease, and harm your teeth.
Fluoride, from toothpaste and fluoridated water, along with your saliva, helps the enamel repair itself by replacing the minerals. Your teeth go through the normal process of give-and-take of minerals.
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However, your enamel will lose minerals if you don’t care for your teeth and consume many sugary or starchy foods and beverages, and tooth decay can result from this.
Absence of such minerals can cause a white area on teeth. An early indicator of tooth decay is this. At this point, you may be able to slow down or stop the damage. If you take better care of your teeth and avoid eating too much sweet or starchy food, your enamel can sometimes still repair itself. Ask your dentist to check any white spots.
But additional minerals are lost as the tooth decay process progresses. The enamel frails and breaks down over the period of time which leads to a cavity. In your tooth, a cavity is a hole. A cavity usually needs a filling from your dentist to fix the lasting damage.
Here is how you can avoid tooth decay
Proper diet
Having an improper diet is one of the tooth decay reasons that you should know. Black tea, coffee, fruit juices, sodas, and energy drinks contribute to tooth disease by bathing teeth in an acidic, sugary solution with each swallow. Sipping acidic or sugary drinks, including alcoholic ones, throughout the day gives enamel less time to recover, which can raise the risk of erosion and tooth decay. Insufficient diet is one of the major reasons of tooth decay.
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Dental hygiene
Poor dental hygiene is one of the major reasons of tooth decay. Use fluoridated toothpaste and a soft-bristled brush to gently brush twice daily for two minutes. Set a timer to help you brush for at least two minutes, or use an electric toothbrush, since many have a built-in timer. Your dentist or hygienist can check your technique.
Use string floss to floss once daily to reach areas between the teeth that a toothbrush can’t. Gently work the string in a C shape around the tooth using an 18-inch strand wound around the fingers with about an inch or two of working space.
Drink plenty of water
Not having enough water is one of the tooth decay reasons that you should know. To stay hydrated during the day, drink water regularly. Sugar-free gum can help increase saliva. Cutting back on smoking, alcohol or coffee may also help with a dry mouth.
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Find a treatment plan with your doctor and dentist to deal with symptoms brought on by prescription drugs or medical issues. A medicine or oral rinse that increases salivation may be recommended to you. If a medicine is causing dry mouth, your doctor may decide to adjust it; do not stop or change a prescribed medicine on your own. Your dentist can monitor how dry mouth affects your oral health over time and suggest ways to help protect your teeth. Dry mouth can raise the risk of tooth decay.
Treat medical disorders
See your doctor regularly if you have a medical condition, and let both your doctor and dentist know about it. They can help you find a suitable plan to control or treat side effects that affect your mouth.
An oral device or night guard may be recommended for people with sleep apnea, snoring, or bruxism (teeth grinding), after a doctor or dentist assesses them. Your doctor may also suggest other steps, such as changing your sleep position or getting regular exercise.
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Dental check-ups
Try to reduce the leading contributors to dental decay in your life. Visit the dentist for an examination and preventive cleaning as often as your dentist recommends. You should prioritise dental check-ups once in a while. At times, not going for dental check-ups can be one of the major reasons of tooth decay.
Treatments for tooth decay
Dentists can typically detect tooth decay and cavities by inspecting your teeth and using dental tools to probe them. If you have any symptoms, your dentist will inquire further. You could occasionally require a dental x-ray. Based on that, your dentist will choose the right treatment for you.
Fluoride treatment – A fluoride treatment may help the enamel heal if you have early tooth decay.
Root canal treatment – You could require a root canal if the tooth has been harmed or an infection has reached the pulp (inside the tooth). Your dentist will clean the inside of the tooth and root while removing the infected pulp. Now it is time to place a temporary filling in the tooth. You will then need to return to acquire a crown or a permanent filling.
Fillings – Your dentist will first remove the rotted tooth tissue if you have a normal cavity, and then they will rebuild the tooth by filling it with a filling substance.
Tooth extraction – Your dentist might recommend pulling the tooth in difficult situations with irreparable pulp damage. Your dentist may suggest an implant, bridge or denture to replace the missing tooth. Otherwise, your bite may vary as the teeth next to the gap shift. Here is a guide of do’s and don’ts to follow after tooth extraction.
Conclusion
Anyone going through dental pain or discomfort should visit their dentist, as should anyone who notices a white or dark spot, a hole, or sensitivity to sweets, hot or cold. To help prevent decay, a person should also go to the dentist on a regular basis for checkups. If you have facial swelling with a fever, go to an emergency department or call Health Link 811 (24/7 advice from a registered nurse), and call 911 for trouble breathing or swallowing.
Next step: Learn about tooth-coloured fillings at The Port Dental Clinic in Calgary NE. We are open 7 days a week and accept new patients. Book online or call 403-345-1110.
