When I had a badly decayed tooth extracted, I got a partial denture to fill in the gap. I didn't mind it at first, because I was just so happy to have my painful tooth out of my mouth. Over time, I began to get tired of taking it out at night. I asked my dentist if I was could get a dental implant, and he said that my gum disease did not make me a good candidate, but a fixed bridge may be a good option for me. I went with his suggestion, and I have no regrets. I love feeling like I have a real tooth again that I don't have to remove at night. I created this blog to remind other people with a missing tooth that they have many replacement options, and if one is not for you, then try another that may be right.
How much do you really know about cavities? They're easily one of the most common dental diseases and will affect the majority of the adult population. If left untreated, they can progress to extensive tooth decay that requires an expensive and invasive root canal. To protect your dental health, it pays off to learn all you can about them. Here's all you need to know about what causes cavities, how to prevent them and how a family dentist treats them.
What Causes Cavities?
Bacteria in your mouth cause cavities. It's normal for your mouth to contain numerous bacteria, some of which are even helpful and work to prevent tooth decay. The bacteria that cause cavities, however, have the ability to firmly adhere to your teeth and form a hard substance called plaque. The plaque provides protection for other bacteria in your mouth and provides them a place to eat and reproduce.
After these bacteria attach to your tooth and form plaque, they begin to dine on the small food particles that remain in your mouth after you have eaten. They're especially good at processing simple sugars and starchy carbohydrates, which is why dentists advise you to limit these foods. While they're eating, the bacteria create highly acidic waste. This waste builds up on the surface of your tooth and slowly eats away at it, burning through the enamel and causing a small hole to form – these holes are called dental caries or dental cavities.
How Are Cavities Treated?
Your dentist treats your cavities by drilling out the decayed portion of your tooth and filling the hole with a protective substance. Mercury or composite amalgam are the most common materials used for fillings, but gold, silver, and porcelain can also be used. Removing the decayed portion of the tooth and disinfecting the area prevents remaining bacteria from growing inside your tooth while filling the hole prevents any more bacteria from getting in. This ensures that the interior portion of your tooth is kept free of infection.
Why Is It Important to Treat Cavities?
It's important to treat cavities because cavities will progressively worsen. The bacteria that cause plaque don't stop producing acid once they have eaten through your enamel – it eventually eats deeper into your tooth and allows the bacteria to infect the pulp. Once your cavity has progressed to this point, it can no longer be treated by simply filling the cavity. Instead, your dentist will need to perform a root canal on the affected tooth in order to remove infected pulp, fully disinfect the area and seal it off.
In addition, it's more difficult to fully clean a deep cavity by brushing and flossing. The bacteria hide deep in the cavity where the toothbrush can't reach, allowing them to continue reproducing and destroying your tooth. That's why it's important to see a dentist at the first sign of a cavity – by filling a cavity, you halt the progression of decay and save yourself from later needing a root canal.
How Can You Prevent Cavities?
The best way to prevent cavities is by brushing, flossing and using a toothpaste that contains fluoride. When you brush and floss your teeth, you remove the plaque buildup and prevent the bacteria in your mouth from having a chance to produce cavity-causing acid waste. Your teeth have the ability to remineralize themselves to repair small amounts of acid damage. Periodically removing the plaque by brushing and flossing gives your teeth a chance to heal. Brushing with fluoride-containing toothpaste also protects your teeth, since fluoride helps your teeth remineralize and repair.
Make sure you're brushing and flossing at least twice a day. One of these times needs to be right before you go to sleep for the night since you're more susceptible to tooth decay when you're sleeping. Saliva protects your teeth by diluting the acid produced by bacteria, and your body produces much less saliva while you are sleeping.
It's best to schedule regular appointments with your family dentist for checkups and cleaning. It's difficult for people to notice a cavity until it's quite large and has caused extensive decay. By going to regular checkups, you'll catch cavities earlier and stop the progression of tooth decay before you need a root canal. For more information, contact a company like Persona Dental.
Share13 May 2018
