Tooth Decay: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Probably, there is no such person, who have not faced, or at least heard about the tooth decay problem. We constantly hear about the danger of dental caries (another name of the tooth decay) from the dentists and from the ultra white beatifically smiling fellows, advertising us the miraculous toothpastes and chewing gums from the TV screen. But when you try to dig deeper, to turns out, that nobody can actually explain, what this disorder is. So, let' learn more about tooth decay.
What is Tooth Decay?
Tooth decay is a serious inflammatory process, which takes place in a tooth cavity and causes the sharp ache. It is associated with the certain bacteria life activity in your mouth. These bacteria produce acid, which starts slowly, but surely to destroy the affected tooth first enamel layer. After eating out the second one, they will affect the most sensitive part of the tooth, the pulp. And only then the patient will actually start to experience the toothache, as the pulp contains the tooth nerves. The pain will get sharper, as the bacteria will reach the middle part of the pulp, where the tooth nerve endings are located.
Not everybody is aware of the fact that this disease is contagious. Dental caries causing bacteria can be passed from the patient to another person by kissing, sharing the same plate, glass, or toothbrush. So, try to avoid sharing the utilities and personal hygiene items to prevent the tooth decay from the outbursts.
What are Tooth Decay Causes?
The dental caries causing bacteria are constantly present in your mouth and usually do not manifest themselves in the form of the tooth decay problem. The process gets triggered by the combined action of the bacteria and foods, containing an excessive amount of sugar. Inadequate oral cavity hygiene procedures and neglecting of routine check-ups at your dentist's also contribute to the tooth decay development.
What are Tooth Decay Symptoms?
The tooth decay has no obvious symptoms on its early stages, as it takes a long period of time (up to three years) for it to develop. Your dentist might notice a small chalky spot on your tooth, which is the first sign of the second enamel layer destruction. It will turn brown, as the dental carries progresses. The patient starts to experience the increasingly sharp toothache, when the tooth decay reaches the nerve endings in the pulp, developing into a deep dental cavity.
As soon as it reaches the dentin, the dental caries will quickly destroy the most part of the actual tooth. This usually happens in a few months, or even the weeks. That is the reason why it is so important to notice the tooth decay on its early stages and get the proper treatment.
How is Tooth Decay Treated?
It is highly important to have the disorder diagnosed on its early stages to avoid the painful deep root canal treatment procedure, or even a tooth loss. Usually, a dentist puts a filling of amalgam or composite in the affected tooth cavity to recover it, as the decayed tooth cannot heal or restore itself.
If the bacteria have already affected the nerve, a dentist suggests using the root canal treatment, which involves entire pulp removal and the further tooth restoring with the help of the inert material and a dental cap.
After treating the tooth, a dentist checks, whether there are specific habits causing dental decay. This is done to prevent its reoccurrences.
How to Prevent Tooth Decay Development?
The best dental caries preventive measures are following the basic oral hygiene procedures. Remember to brush and floss your teeth at least two times a day to remove the dental plaque. Also drink enough of liquids to improve your salivation, as saliva is your body's natural antibiotic, used to fight the oral cavity bacteria. Do not forget to visit your dentist for the check-ups at least once every six months.
If you are at the high-risk group of tooth decay development, your dentist may take certain protective measures, such as applying topical fluoride or dental sealants on your tooth surface. The latter is especially effective for the children's molars protection.
So, do not neglect the tooth decay, as it is much more serious problem, than it might seem on the face of it. If untreated, it might gradually lead to the tooth loss. That is why it is worth taking the above mentioned, easy-to-follow preventive measures!
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