Tooth Decay

Understanding Tooth Decay: Causes, Prevention, and Treatment

Have you ever been diagnosed with tooth decay? If your answer is positive, you might want to know what has happened in your body. If you’ve never had it, it’s a good idea to understand its mechanism so you can prevent it successfully. Here, we will help you get all the necessary information you need to know about tooth decay. We will cover: 

• Introduction to Tooth Decay 
• Causes of Tooth Decay 
• Stages of Tooth Decay 
• Symptoms of Tooth Decay
• Prevention Methods 
• Treatment Options 
• Impact of Tooth Decay on Overall Health

Let’s dive deeper into details to be able to act more proactively about our oral health and protect our smile from cavities. If you’re concerned about tooth decay, visiting a dentist in Orangeville at U Smile Dentistry can help you maintain a healthy smile.

Introduction to Tooth Decay

Tooth decay happens to the outer layer of teeth. We call this layer tooth enamel. When your dentist diagnoses you with tooth decay, it means that your tooth enamel is weakened and damaged. According to the World Health Organization, dental cavities or caries is one of the most common diseases in the world, the second most common issue after the common cold. It affects nearly 2.4 billion people.

Causes of Tooth Decay 

When it comes to tooth decay, the main causes boil down to these three:

• Dental plaque and bacteria
• A diet full of sugary and acidic foods and drinks
• Having poor oral hygiene habits

So, how do cavities form? Let’s dive into the mechanism.

The first and most important thing to talk about is the accumulation of dental plaque. This is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth. These bacteria feed on sugars and starches from food and drinks, and then produce acids. After some time, these acids can dissolve the minerals in tooth enamel, leading to decay.

If you have a lot of sugary and starchy foods in your diet, you significantly increase the risk of tooth decay. When you have something sugary, bacteria in your mouth produce acid for up to 20 minutes, and demineralization starts. Snacking a lot throughout the day and sipping sugary drinks is what can cause this.

After the plaque has accumulated on the surface of your teeth, you can make everything worse by not brushing and flossing daily! Plaque hardens into tartar, and once this happens it cannot be removed by simply brushing. You’ll need professional teeth cleaning.

The Four Stages of Tooth Decay

Tooth decay has several stages. It starts from the surface of the tooth and goes deeper gradually. As it reaches more parts, it also becomes more problematic and we need more complicated treatments to stop it.

• 1: Enamel loses its minerals (Demineralization): 

The first stage happens when minerals are lost from the enamel. You can see this as white spots appearing on teeth. At this stage, the decay can be reversed: by improving oral hygiene and getting a fluoride treatment.

• 2: Enamel starts to decay:

Demineralization continues. The enamel breaks down. Cavities are formed. At this stage, you’ll need to see your dentist so they can perform treatments to save your tooth.

• 3: Dentin stars to decay:

If you don’t treat the cavities, decay progresses to the dentin. Dentin is the softer layer beneath the enamel. The cavity is now more serious. Your tooth probably becomes sensitive to hot and cold or sweet foods.

• 4: The infection reaches the pulp:

Now, the center of your tooth is about to get damaged. In the pulp (the innermost part) there are blood vessels and nerves. You’ll experience severe pain as tooth decay reaches this level. A dental abscess might also form at this point and risk your tooth’s health even more.

Read More: Foods and Drinks to Avoid with dental Crowns

Symptoms of Tooth Decay

Detecting a problem early surely goes a long way toward keeping the damage at a minimum level. You already know how dangerous tooth decay can become if it’s left untreated. When decay starts to invade your tooth, these signs are common:

• Toothache that won’t go away even when you take painkillers
• Your tooth is sensitive to foods and drinks that are hot, cold, or sweet.
• Visible pits or holes can be seen on your tooth.
• Brown, black, or white stains can appear on your tooth.
• Biting down becomes painful.

Our Services: Emergency Dentist in Orangeville

Are you experiencing any of these?

If yes, you should see a dentist immediately. If you live in Orangeville, we are here for you at U Smile Dentistry to relieve your pain and stop tooth decay quickly.

Do You Need to Find an Emergency Dentist in Orangeville?

Schedule a consultation with our dentists and let’s make things happen!

+1 (647) 492-9149

Here’s How to Prevent Tooth Decay

The best method to prevent tooth decay is to combine good oral hygiene, healthy eating, and regular check-ups. Keep doing these, andchances are you won’t be hearing the word “tooth decay” for the rest of your life! It’s not that hard after all… Is it?!

• Learn how to brush and floss like a pro: Here’s the schedule you should do these based on: Brushing (with fluoride toothpaste) twice a day, and flossing, once each day. This way, you can remove plaque buildup (remember the naughty bacteria?!) and prevent anything dangerous from happening in your mouth.
• Don’t forget your teeth. Visit your dentist once in a while: A version of you visiting the dentist regularly is a version that has a healthy smile! But why is this important? That’s because a dentist can see early signs that you can’t detect all by yourself. You can also get a professional cleaning that cleanses your teeth thoroughly.
• Add fluoride to your oral hygiene: Fluoride is a mineral, and minerals are essential for the integrity of your tooth enamel. Fluoride can strengthen enamel, making it more resistant to acid attacks. You can find it in toothpaste, mouth rinses, and even water supplies! You may also need fluoride treatments. This is something that you can ask your dentist about it.
• Optimize your diet: This is no news: fill your diet with fruits, vegetables, and dairy products! No matter how cliché it sounds, it shouldn’t cause us to ignore it and stick to our chips and snacks… Sugary and acidic foods and beverages are not helping your teeth stay healthy. So, try to consume them less and replace them with something healthier.

Read More: Ways to prevent tooth decay

Tooth Decay Treatment Options

With the proper treatment, tooth decay is a manageable dental problem. For each stage of the problem and based on the patient’s dental needs, we use one of these treatments:

• Fillings: The most common treatment for cavities. We remove the decayed portion of the tooth and then fill the cavity with materials such as composite resin, amalgam, or gold.
• Crowns: We might suggest you get a dental crown if your tooth decay is extensive. A crown is a cap that covers and protects the damaged tooth. After applying the crown, your tooth will look and work like before. This piece is made from materials like porcelain, metal, or a combination of both that offer a natural look and strength.
• Root Canals: We choose this treatment for the last stage of tooth decay when the infection damages the pulp. Through this treatment, we remove the infected pulp, clean and disinfect the root canals, and seal them to prevent further infection.
• Tooth Extraction: If your tooth is severely damaged to the extent that it cannot be restored, extraction may be necessary. You can replace the missing tooth with a dental implant, bridge, or denture.

Read More: When Should You Visit an Emergency Dentist?

Tooth Decay Can Affect More than Just Your Teeth

Tooth decay is not merely about your teeth. The different parts of our body are not separate from each other. The bacteria responsible for decay can enter the bloodstream and reach other parts of your body, causing problems there.

Living tooth decay untreated, you put your general health at risk:

• Heart Disease: Studies suggest that there’s a link between poor oral health and cardiovascular disease.
• Diabetes: Gum disease associated with tooth decay can make it harder to control blood sugar levels.
• Respiratory Infections: Inhaling bacteria from the mouth can lead to lung infections and conditions like pneumonia.

As you can see, having a good oral hygiene routine is an investment in your overall health.  

Read More: Gum Disease Treatment in Orangeville

Summing Up

Tooth decay is common, but preventable. The way to stay decay-free is to get familiar with its causes, stages, and symptoms. Regular dental check-ups, proper oral hygiene practices, and a healthy diet are key to preventing and managing tooth decay.

Located in Orangeville, U Smile Dentistry is where you can find dental experts you can trust. We provide everything you need to have a brilliant smile, from dental fillings to orthodontic treatment and dental veneers. Our expertise, passion, and goals are all focused on a single point: helping you smile confidently.

Our Services: Family Dentist in Orangeville

Call us at (647) 492-9149 to get your free consultation!