What Is Tooth Decay and Is It Reversible?

Have you ever had pain or sensitivity in one or more of your teeth? When biting down or eating particular foods, have you experienced anything like this? These are early indicators that cavities are developing. Ignoring them might leave you vulnerable to additional major dental difficulties in the future & Which in turn may leave you often visiting Orthodontist in Raleigh.

To avoid or treat tooth decay, we must first grasp the reasons and what causes tooth decay. Cavities are essentially a bacterial infection caused by germs that live in your mouth interacting with food residue and generating acids.

Acids produced by Streptococcus mutans erode the enamel of your teeth at a much faster rate than salivary acids. These acids then dissolve away at your teeth and eat away at the enamel layer. The erosion of your teeth causes cavities or tooth decay, which are holes or openings in your teeth.

In the case of cavities, catching and treating them early entails utilizing less complicated and more minimally invasive restorative treatments.

What Happens If You Don’t Treat a Cavity When It’s Still Small?

Cavities deepen if left untreated. They may also induce discomfort and heightened sensitivity. It doesn’t end there, either. Tooth decay spreads quickly to the nerves and adjoining teeth, resulting in tooth loss and the need for more expensive and time-consuming treatments.

What could have been resolved with a simple less invasive filling may now necessitate the use of a crown. You will require a root canal if you wait until the cavity has spread into the nerves.

The longer a cavity exists and spreads, the more time and insurance benefits you will have to invest.

Decaying of Tooth

 

The Importance of Your Diet and Hygiene

Some persons are more affected by cavities than others. This is related to a variety of factors that you may or may not be aware of, such as the use of certain medications or developmental abnormalities.

Tooth decay is, however, influenced by our lifestyle and food for the vast majority of us. Our eating choices, such as drinking sodas, juices, sweet tea, and sports drinks, can wear down our teeth over time. If consumed on a frequent basis, the acids in sweet (and artificially sweetened) drinks will eventually cause tooth decay.

It’s preferable to stay away from these drinks on a regular basis to avoid cavities in the first place. It’s fine to indulge once in a while. It’s also critical to schedule time for appropriate hygiene practices on a daily basis.

Brushing your teeth surfaces back and forth isn’t enough these days, given the stuff we all eat. Brushing lightly along the gumlines is also necessary. Brushing becomes much more efficient with the use of an electric toothbrush.

Flossing is equally essential to remove the debris caught between the curves of your teeth and beneath the edges of the gums, and preventing cavities between the teeth.

The best dental care is a water flosser that sends a powerful stream of water to clean away the food particles. Dental cleanings and fluoride treatments may help you identify problem areas and reverse demineralization before cavities develop.

 

How Do Cavities Appear?

To detect a cavity early, you must not only understand what tooth decay is, but also be aware of specific indications. When tooth decay initially appears, it might be difficult to identify. It is characterized by the following symptoms when it becomes severe:

  • When you bite down, your teeth hurt.
  • Sweet food or beverage sensitivity
  • Throbbing or sporadic discomfort

Pain, on the other hand, isn’t often the only indicator of a cavity. You may also encounter:

  • Teeth with little brown, yellow, or black colored holes, pits, or white patches
  • Even after flossing and brushing on a regular basis, bad breath might occur.
  • Sensitivity of a tooth in a certain area
  • Food stuck between your teeth or floss shredding in that area

Teeth Decay

 

How Early Diagnosis Can Help

You might not know how to detect a cavity if you’ve never had one before. Cavities do not always produce discomfort or are noticeable to the naked eye. The best method to prevent this frequent oral illness is to visit our Raleigh Orthodontists for a full examination every six months.

A checkup and an X-ray can detect early signs of tooth decay, allowing Engstrom & Hamilton Orthodontics to prevent it from spreading.

Do You Believe You Have a Cavity?

Schedule your six-month appointment with our Raleigh Family Orthodontics immediately if you have any additional questions concerning tooth decay.

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