Tooth Decay
It Can Be Prevented!
Tooth Decay is a common tooth problem which is, ironically so, one of the easiest to prevent.
Despite its common nature in that it can occur both in children and in adults, the decaying of tooth is the ultimate result of lack of proper dental hygiene. This means that simply taking care of your teeth will already go a long way in preventing them from decaying.
Tooth decay is closely related to tooth cavity, which is considered as the foremost and the most common cause of decay. Cavity, on the other hand, can be traced back to the accumulation of plaque on the teeth surface.
Let us look closer into the process of decay that affects the teeth in order to learn how it can be prevented.
How Decay of Your Teeth Occurs
A few ways how tooth decay occurs include:
- The Appearance of Plaque
- The Formation of Dental Cavities
- The Onset of Decaying Tooth
1. The Appearance of Plaque
Plaque is a common tooth enemy that affects all ages and is responsible for most teeth problems encountered even by kids
. Plaque refers to the substance that sticks to the surface of your teeth. Mostly it is made up of harmful bacteria that nibble away on your teeth.
The accumulation of plaque may be difficult to avoid since it all begins with eating, which is something we simply cannot avoid to do. Plaque accumulates, however, only when food debris, especially sugary ones, are left on the surface of the teeth. When not brushed away, the food debris forms bacteria and the bacteria releases acids that turn into plaque, which then continues to grow until the bacteria manage to drill a hole on your tooth.
2. The Formation of Dental Cavities
That hole is the infamous tooth cavity. It mostly affects the enamel coating of teeth, but if not treated, the cavity may continue damaging the teeth until it gets access to the inside of your teeth. Tooth decay comes in various levels depending on the extent of damage done to the teeth and how far the cavities are able to go.
Dental cavities are also termed as dental caries. They are often easy to spot if you go to the dentist regularly since they leave black spots on your tooth’s surface. Most of the time, especially during the early stages, the hole will not be painful at all, so unless you go to a dentist regularly, it can be quite difficult for you to detect cavities.
This just shows that proper dental care, which involves regular cleanings and checkups, can go a long way in preventing tooth decay and protecting your teeth from possible harm caused by plaque and cavities.
3.The Onset of Decaying Teeth
Tooth decay happens at varying stages. At first, you can barely feel it, but as the decay gets worse, you can soon feel some pain or stinging. The pain begins when the decay starts affecting the nerves inside the tooth. This is what often causes toothache, and it is only then that most people find the need to go to a dentist.
Due to the onset of decay, you may be left with no choice but to seek major treatment for your teeth. If the decay is so bad that it has affected the entire tooth and the nerves inside, you may need root canal surgery. However, if your dentist is able to catch the problem early on, he or she can simply clean the cavity to get rid of the bacteria then apply fillings and sealants to prevent tooth decay and further accumulation of plaque.
Preventing Decay
As mentioned earlier, decaying of teeth can be controlled, though it would be impossible not to be faced with the threat of decay at one point or another.
After all, food is the culprit, and we simply cannot live with it. But as much as possible, it can be avoided by catching it early and applying preventive measures.
In order to be able to avoid serious decaying of teeth, you should have regular dentist visits. You should also brush your teeth not just three times a day but also when you eat something especially sugary. This will help avoid the accumulation of plague.
Fluoride can also contribute to the overall strength and resistance of your teeth to cavities and tooth decay, so use a fluoride toothpaste and get fluoride treatments from your dentist from time to time.
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