CAVITIES AND TOOTH DECAY: CAUSESAND TREATMENT

Cavities and tooth decay are the most prevalent dental problems worldwide. According to World Health Organization, nearly 60 – 90% of school-aged children and nearly 100% of adults worldwide have experienced dental cavities at some point in their lives.

In this blog, I’ll be delving into the causes and treatment of this disease, and I will be giving tips to help you maintain excellent Oral Health.

We’ll begin by looking at some of the causes of tooth decay. Without further ado, let’s get into it.

 

CAUSES OF CAVITIES AND TOOTH DECAY

  1. Poor Oral Hygiene: Poor oral hygiene is one of the primary causes of this disease, contributing to the most common non-communicable disease worldwide as sited by World Health Organization. When you don’t brush regularly, plaque buildup occurs on the teeth. Plaques are basically a sticky film that contains harmful bacteria. These bacteria hosted by the plaques produce acids which in turn corrode the enamel (outer protective layer of the teeth). As this happens gradually, over a long time, the corrosion by the acids produced by these bacteria results in a hole on the teeth. This hole is the cavity. There is no method to totally eradicate plaques in your home. This is why it is advised that you visit you brus twice daily and visit the dentist once every 6 months.

 

  1. Intake of Sugary and Acidic Foods: Intake of sugary foods have a significant part to play in causing tooth decay. These foods are broken down to acids by bacteria in the mouth and these acids dissolve the tooth surface, leading to tooth decay. The end of this is similar to what was mentioned previously – a hole in the tooth. It’s important to limit the intake of sugary foods to combat tooth decay. Another option would be to always rinse your mouth after taking anything sugary to get rid of deposits in the mouth

 

 

  1. Genetics: Surprising right? Yes, tooth decay can also be facilitated by genetic factors. Dental features such as a weak enamel (outer covering of the teeth) and high susceptibility to plaque buildup can be inherited. The enamel is what protects the teeth from damage hence, its weakness implies that it’ll be more vulnerable to tooth decay. Acids produced by the bacteria in plaques will erode weaker enamels faster despite good oral hygiene which is quite unfortunate. Such individuals are advised to be more diligent with their Oral Health to reduce the risk of dental issues associated with weaker enamels

 

  1. Dental Anatomy: The shape, size and surface characteristics of the teeth also contribute to the tendency of someone having dental cavities. Pits between the teeth can trap food particles and plaque in the mouth leading to plaque buildup. With proper brushing, it may still be difficult to take care of these areas in the mouth. Over time, the plaques buildup and cause damage to the teeth if regular dental checks are not done. Eventually, this can lead to a tooth cavity.

 

  1. Dry Mouth: Dry mouth causes tooth cavity as a result of reduced Saliva production. Saliva plays a very important role in the mouth including washing away food particles, protecting teeth from damage and neutralizing acids in the mouth. When saliva production reduces, there is increase in plaque production leading to more risk of enamel erosion and the formation of cavities. If you have dry mouth, it’s very important to hydrate more and see a specialist to address the cause.

 

 

TREATMENT OF CAVITIES AND TOOTH DECAY

To treat tooth decay, it’s important you pay a visit to your dentist at the first sight of it. A skilled dentist will assess the decayed tooth/teeth and determine the best course of action. Usually, the treatment will involve removing the decayed portion of and filling the hole that forms in your tooth. I strongly advise that you don’t ignore a decay once it’s sighted. Ignoring a decay may lead to more sever damage to your teeth resulting in it being extracted in severe cases.

Your dentist may also recommend measures like dental sealants and fluoride treatment to prevent a reoccurrence. Remember, taking prompt action to treat it may be the key to preserving your smile. If you would like to schedule an appointment with us, you can click here.

 

WHEN IS IT TOO LATE TO REVERSE A CAVITY

Treating dental cavities early on is paramount to ensuring the survival of the tooth. The only way to know if it’s too late to reverse a cavity is to book an appointment with a dentist. If you don’t see a dentist, cavities will worsen over time. Also, there’s no natural way to remove them at home.

Delaying treatment will eventually result in you needing more invasive procedures like Root Canal Treatment or an extraction. If the same case was reported earlier, the tooth may have been salvaged with a dental filling which is less invasive.

Regular dental checkups also help in detecting dental problems like cavities as well as other issues early on. It is advised that you visit the dentist once every 6 months. This simple practice will ensure your Oral Health is perfect all the time.

 

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR A CAVITY TO DESTROY A TOOTH

The time it takes for a cavity to destroy a tooth typically varies, depending on the individual’s Oral Hygiene and how rapidly the cavity progress. However, on an average, Cavities that are two years or longer would likely have damaged a tooth severely. Some symptoms of cavities that have been going on for a long time include discolouration around the tooth, severe pain, gum swelling and sensitivity indicating that the bacteria have caused some major damages to the pulp (soft tissue located at the center of a tooth).

However, as I’ve stated severally through this blog, I would advise that you pay a visit to the dentist once you notice any dark colour or holes on the surface of your tooth.

 

To sum it all up, cavities and tooth decay do not damage your teeth overnight. With the information you have learned in this blog, I would advise that you adopt preventive measures including reducing your intake of sugary foods, brushing twice a day and having regular dental appointments to ensure that any threats to your smile is nullified before it becomes anything serious.

Do you have any other questions or would you like a consultation with a dentist regarding any dental challenges, you can reach out to us and we would be happy to schedule an appointment for you.