This post is for anyone who has ever been told that they have tooth decay. Of course, it’s normal to be scared or worried about this, but don’t worry!
There are many ways you can fix the problem and go back to living your life in peace.
The first thing you want to do is make sure your diet isn’t bad – try eating more fruits and vegetables instead of sugary snacks.
This will help prevent further tooth decay from happening in the future.
If it does happen, you can do a few things: brush with fluoride toothpaste twice a day, floss every day, use mouthwash after brushing teeth, see your dentist regularly for cleanings, and drink water; throughout the day because it helps keep teeth healthy too!
What causes tooth decay?
Our mouths are full of bacteria. Some bacteria are helpful. But some can be harmful, including the ones that play a role in tooth decay.
These bacteria combine with food to form a soft, sticky film called plaque.
The bacteria in plaque use the sugar and starch in what you eat and drink to make acids. The acids begin to eat away at the minerals on your enamel. Over time, the plaque can harden into tartar.
Besides damaging your teeth, plaque and tartar can also irritate your gums and cause gum disease.
You get fluoride from toothpaste, water, and other sources. This fluoride, along with your saliva, helps the enamel repair itself by replacing the minerals.
Your teeth go through this natural process of losing minerals and regaining minerals all day long. But if you don’t take care of your teeth and eat and drink lots of sugary or starchy things, your enamel will keep losing minerals. This leads to tooth decay.
A white spot may appear where minerals have been lost. This is an early sign of tooth decay.
You may be able to stop or reverse the decay at this point. However, your enamel can still repair itself if you take better care of your teeth and limit sugary/starchy foods and drinks.
But if the tooth decay process continues, more minerals are lost. Over time, the enamel is weakened and destroyed, forming a cavity.
A cavity is a hole in your tooth. It is permanent damage that a dentist has to repair with a filling.
What are the signs of cavities?
Tooth decay on the outer enamel surface doesn’t usually cause pain or symptoms. Instead, you’re more likely to experience symptoms as decay progresses into the dentin and root.
Signs of cavities include:
- Bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth.
- Bleeding gums or other signs of gum disease.
- Facial swelling.
- Toothache or mouth pain.
- Tooth sensitivity to hot or cold foods or drinks.
- Redness around or inside the mouth.
What is the prognosis (outlook) for people with cavities?
Most people with cavities don’t experience any long-term problems.
However, because cavities develop slowly, it’s important to get regular dental check-ups.
Fluoride treatments can stop tooth decay in its early stages.
Once tooth decay advances to the root, you risk losing the tooth or developing a painful abscess (infection).
Ways to prevent tooth decay
Tooth decay can be prevented by:
- brushing teeth twice a day for 2 minutes using fluoride toothpaste
- having sweet foods and sugary drinks only occasionally — water is the best drink
- eating a healthy, balanced diet
- limiting or avoiding sugary snacks
- having regular dental check-ups — many dental health experts recommend an appointment every six months
Children’s teeth have softer and thinner enamel, so they decay more easily than adult teeth do.
If you have young children, you can help prevent decay in their teeth by:
- cleaning their teeth twice daily
- avoiding sugary drinks, such as juices, and sweet food
- keeping your teeth and gums clean and healthy to avoid passing decay-causing germs when you share spoons or taste their food
Use fluoride
Fluoride is a mineral that can prevent tooth decay from progressing. It can even reverse or stop early tooth decay.
Fluoride works to protect teeth. It:
- – prevents mineral loss in tooth enamel and replaces lost minerals
- – reduces the ability of bacteria to make acid
You can get fluoride by:
- Drinking fluoridated water from a community water supply, about 74 per cent of Americans served by a community water supply system receive fluoridated water. (If you have well water, see “Private Well Water and Fluoride” from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.)
- Brushing with a fluoride toothpaste
If the dentist thinks your child needs more fluoride, they may:
- Apply a fluoride gel or varnish to tooth surfaces
- Prescribe fluoride tablets
- Recommend using a fluoride mouth rinse
Keep an eye on how often your child eats, as well as what they eat
Your child’s diet is important in preventing a cavity.
Remember, every time we eat or drink something that contains sugar or starches, bacteria in our mouth use the sugar and starch to produce acids.
These acids begin to eat away at the tooth’s enamel.
Our saliva can help fight off this acid attack.
But if we frequently eat throughout the day — especially foods and drinks containing sugar and starches — the repeated acid attacks will win the tug of war, causing the tooth to lose minerals and eventually develop a cavity.
That’s why it’s important to keep an eye on how often your children eat as well as what they eat.
Regular check-ups
Visit a dentist regularly for cleanings and an examination. During the visit, the dentist or hygienist will:
- Remove dental plaque
- Check for any areas of early tooth decay
- Show you and your child how to clean the teeth thoroughly
- Apply a fluoride gel or varnish, if necessary
- Schedule your next regular check-up
How to avoid tooth decay
Although tooth decay is a common problem, it’s often entirely preventable.
The best way to avoid tooth decay is to keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible. For example, you should:
- visit your dentist regularly – your dentist will decide how often they need to see you based on the condition of your mouth, teeth and gums
- cut down on sugary and starchy food and drinks, particularly between meals or within an hour of going to bed – some medications can also contain sugar, so it’s best to look for sugar-free alternatives where possible
- look after your teeth and gums – brushing your teeth properly with fluoride toothpaste twice a day, using floss and an interdental brush at least once a day
- avoid smoking or drinking alcohol excessively – tobacco can interfere with saliva production, which helps to keep your teeth clean, and alcohol can contribute to the erosion of tooth enamel
- see your dentist or GP if you have a persistently dry mouth – this may be caused by certain medicines, treatment or medical conditions
Dental Exam
Regular dental exams are a critical part of preventive health care.
The dentist or hygienist will clean your teeth during a dental exam and check for cavities and gum disease. The exam includes evaluating your risk of developing other oral problems and checking your face, neck and mouth for abnormalities.
A dental exam might also include dental X-rays (radiographs) or other diagnostic procedures.
Your dentist or hygienist will likely discuss your diet and oral hygiene habits and demonstrate proper brushing and flossing techniques.
Other topics might include lifestyle factors that can affect oral health and possible cosmetic improvements to your teeth.
What you can expect
During a dental exam, the dentist or hygienist will:
- Evaluate your overall health and oral hygiene
- Evaluate your risk of tooth decay, root decay, and gum or bone disease
- Evaluate your need for tooth restoration or replacement
- Check your bite and jaw for problems
- Remove stains or deposits on your teeth
- Demonstrate proper cleaning techniques for your teeth or dentures
- Assess your need for fluoride
- Possibly take dental X-rays or, if necessary, do other diagnostic procedures.
During a dental exam, your dentist or hygienist will also ask about your health problems or medications you take and discuss how they might affect your oral health.
If you have diabetes, for example, you’re at increased risk of gum disease.
Medications that contribute to dry mouth can increase your risk of tooth decay.
If arthritis or another condition hampers your ability to brush your teeth, your dentist or hygienist might show you how to insert the handle of your toothbrush into a rubber ball to make gripping easier — or recommend an electric toothbrush.
If you have prosthetic replacements — such as dentures or bridges — your dentist or hygienist will examine how well they fit and discuss the need for adjustments.
Dental exams might also include counselling about diet, tobacco products and other lifestyle factors that can affect oral health.
Treatment
Regular check-ups can identify cavities and other dental conditions before they cause troubling symptoms and lead to more serious problems.
The sooner you seek care, the better your chances of reversing the earliest stages of tooth decay and preventing its progression. If a cavity is treated before it starts causing pain, you probably won’t need extensive treatment.
Treatment of cavities depends on how severe they are and your particular situation. Treatment options include:
- Fluoride treatments. If your cavity just started, a fluoride treatment may help restore your tooth’s enamel and can sometimes reverse a cavity in the very early stages. Professional fluoride treatments contain more fluoride than the amount found in tap water, toothpaste and mouth rinses. Fluoride treatments may be liquid, gel, foam or varnish that’s brushed onto your teeth or placed in a small tray that fits over your teeth.
- Fillings. Fillings, also called restorations, are the main treatment option when decay has progressed beyond the earliest stage. Fillings are made of various materials, such as tooth-coloured composite resins, porcelain or dental amalgam that combines several materials.
- Crowns. For extensive decay or weakened teeth, you may need a crown — a custom-fitted covering that replaces your tooth’s entire natural crown. Your dentist drills away all the decayed area and enough of the rest of your tooth to ensure a good fit. Crowns may be made of gold, high strength porcelain, resin, porcelain fused to metal or other materials.
- Root canals. When decay reaches the inner material of your tooth (pulp), you may need a root canal. This is a treatment to repair and save a badly damaged or infected tooth instead of removing it. First, the diseased tooth pulp is removed. Next, medication is sometimes put into the root canal to clear any infection. Then the pulp is replaced with a filling.
- Tooth extractions. Some teeth become so severely decayed that they can’t be restored and must be removed. Also, having a tooth pulled can leave a gap that allows your other teeth to shift. If possible, consider getting a bridge or a dental implant to replace the missing tooth.
Results
After your exam, the dentist or hygienist will discuss your oral health, including your risk of tooth decay, gum disease and other oral health problems, and preventive measures you can take to improve and protect your oral health.
The dentist or hygienist will also recommend when to return for a follow-up visit. For example, if you are at high risk of tooth decay or gum disease or have other oral health problems, the dentist or hygienist might recommend frequent check-ups.
Treatment might be needed to address any of these findings and may be explained in a follow-up consultation appointment. Occasionally, some treatment might be conducted from the work of dental specialists, depending on the complexity of the care suggested by your dentist.
Just as the dentist uses a team to provide care, more complex care needs might include work from other dentists specializing in specific treatment such as oral surgery or gum treatment.
Conclusions
Cavities and tooth decay are so common that you may not take them seriously. And you may think that it doesn’t matter if children get cavities in their baby teeth.
However, cavities and tooth decay can have serious and lasting complications, even for children who don’t have their permanent teeth yet.
Nevertheless, good oral and dental hygiene can help you avoid cavities and tooth decay.
