Tooth Decay / Dental Caries – Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

What is Tooth Decay/ Dental Caries?

Tooth decay also known as Dental Caries or a Cavity, is an infection, bacterial in origin, that causes demineralization and destruction of the hard tissues of the teeth. It is a result of the production of acid by bacterial fermentation of food debris accumulated on the tooth surface.

Tooth Decay or Dental Caries or Cavities

If demineralization exceeds saliva and other remineralization factors such as from calcium and fluoridated toothpastes, these once hard tissues progressively break down, producing dental caries. Today, caries remains one of the most common diseases throughout the world. Cariology is the study of dental caries.

Causes for Tooth Decay / Dental Caries:

1. Poor Oral Hygiene Practices - Today manual toothbrushes and floss are not the only way to remove the plaque. In fact, automated brushes are one of the most effective ways to break up the party the plaque is having on your teeth. Floss can be assisted by various oralirrigators. Styles and kinds of these devices are suggested in my office according to each individual's own unique situation. Coaching by the hygienist on follow-up visits yield the most effective way to improve your oral hygiene. And remember-plaque produces mouth odors not unlike rotten eggs!
   
   
2. Poorly formed Enamel and Deep Tooth Crevices - This plaque seeks to find the most accessible areas to grow and destroy enamel. Educating the patients goes a long way in giving them the complete picture on what is going on. Something as simple as dental sealants can be used to prevent decay in the grooves and crevices that have NOT been infected.
   
   
3. Poor Diet - Diet high in sugar are next in the reasons for tooth decay. Some of the same practices that expand the waistlines also destroy tooth enamel. Food and drink high in carbohydrates break down quickly in the "sticky goo". Fruit juices can have as much sugar or a non-diet soft drink. And speaking of diet soft drinks - read the label - it has acid in the mix. This is not good for your teeth. Our dental hygienist can help you evaluate your diet to help you steer clear of the poor choices and make better ones.
   
   
4. Dry Mouth Conditions - Its called Xerostomia, many times are produced by prescription medications. It is not uncommon for patients, especially in their 6th decade and older to be taking multiple prescriptions that inhibit or stop saliva flow. Saliva has naturally occurring components that inhibit plaque growth and adherence. Interrupting this process causes decay to appear even on front teeth and can destroy previous dental work. It is always a part of the dental exam to find these connections and halt decay. Diabetes is another cause of dry mouth (xerostomia) and is on the rise with an estimated 45 to 50 million new cases by the year 2025. Our hygienist and dentists are trained to be aware of these conditions that threaten patient's health.
   
   
5. Tooth Grinding and Bruxism - Environmental stresses influence tooth grinding. Tooth grinding strips away the hard outer enamel layer leaving the softer dentin exposed. Dentin, which is 600 times softer than the tooth enamel is much easier for the plaque to break down. Teeth stripped become easy victims of tooth decay/cavities. Approximately 70% of patients who GRIND their tooth have no idea that they do! Outward signs to the patient can be small chips on the edges of the top and bottom front teeth or a "flattening" of the tooth ---- they begin to look even from one corner to the other. A simple guard, called a bite guard or night guard can stop the destruction. 

 

Tooth Decay Symptoms:

Tooth decay usually does not cause symptoms until you have a cavity or infected tooth. When this occurs, symptoms include:

• Toothache, which is the most common symptom. An infection or irritation of the tooth pulp usually causes the pain.
  
• Bad breath or a foul taste in the mouth.
  
• White, grey, brown, or black spots on the teeth.
  
• Loose fillings.
  
• A broken tooth or a tooth that is sensitive to pressure.
  

The pain may become worse when you:

• Eat sweets.
  
• Eat hot or cold foods or drink hot, cold, or acidic liquids, such as citrus drinks.
  
• Chew food or gum.
  
• Breathe in cold air.
  
• Brush your teeth.
  

Severe tooth decay may cause a pus-filled sac (abscess) to form in the bone at the base of a tooth. Symptoms of abscess include:

• Fever.
  
• Swollen glands.
  
• A swollen jaw.
  
• Deep, throbbing pain.
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  Tooth Decay Treatment:
  
  
  Treatment for tooth decay varies according to how severe the decay is.
  
  
• Brushing and flossing with fluoride toothpaste and/or receiving fluoride treatments may be enough to reverse early decay, before cavities have formed.
  
• You need a filling if a cavity has formed. A filling is a material that plugs the cavity hole and restores a tooth to its original shape after your dentist has removed the decay.
  
• You may need a crown if the decay is severe and your tooth is badly damaged. A crown (often called a cap) is a man-made replacement for all or part of a tooth. Crowns are also used to treat teeth that have broken or decayed so much that a filling will not work.
  
• You may need a root canal treatment if the pulp of your tooth is infected. A root canal removes the diseased pulp of a tooth.
  
• You may need your tooth taken out (extraction) if the root of the tooth is severely damaged. You may need to replace the tooth with a bridge or an implant.
  

If you do not treat tooth decay, your cavities can get worse and you may lose a tooth. If you wait to see your dentist, your tooth repair will probably cost more and take longer.

Tooth Decay - Natural Ayurvedic Home Remedies:

Tooth Decay/Dental Caries Prevention Methods:

Oral hygiene is necessary to prevent cavities. This consists of regular professional cleaning (every 6 months), brushing at least twice a day, and flossing at least daily. X-rays may be taken yearly to detect possible cavity development in high risk areas of the mouth.

Chewy, sticky foods (such as dried fruit or candy) are best if eaten as part of a meal rather than as a snack. If possible, brush the teeth or rinse the mouth with water after eating these foods. Minimize snacking, which creates a constant supply of acid in the mouth. Avoid constant sipping of sugary drinks or frequent sucking on candy and mints.

Dental sealants can prevent some cavities. Sealants are thin plastic-like coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of the molars. This coating prevents the accumulation of plaque in the deep grooves on these vulnerable surfaces. Sealants are usually applied on the teeth of children, shortly after the molars erupt. Older people may also benefit from the use of tooth sealants.

Fluoride is often recommended to protect against dental caries. It has been demonstrated that people who ingest fluoride in their drinking water or by fluoride supplements have fewer dental caries. Fluoride ingested when the teeth are developing is incorporated into the structure of the enamel and protects it against the action of acids.

Topical fluoride is also recommended to protect the surface of the teeth. This may include a fluoride toothpaste or mouthwash. Many dentists include application of topical fluoride solutions (applied to a localized area of the teeth) as part of routine visits.

Cheers,

Marshall