Tooth Cavity
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Tooth Cavities

May 22, 2023

A survey was taken in a mall about the most daunting fears in one’s life. Many answered, saying “monsters”, “dark rooms”, “high buildings,” and so on. One little boy from the crowd stepped up and said, “My dentist”. A dentist is often portrayed as a very scary person with pliers who pulls one’s teeth out. In reality, a dentist actually helps save our teeth and the structures that support them. We often neglect our oral hygiene, which brings us to the point of tooth extraction. This article aims to create some awareness about how to save our teeth and not lose them after damage has been done

 

WHAT IS A TOOTH CAVITY?

Dental caries, commonly called tooth decay, results in the formation of a cavity. It is one of the most common global oral health problems today. This occurs due to the activity of certain bacteria, like Streptococcus mutans, found on the tooth surface. The food we eat is broken down into sugar. These bacteria metabolize sugars to produce acid. If bad oral hygiene practices continue for a long period of time, the acid that is produced, slowly starts to break down the tooth structure by demineralizing it. This is how a tooth cavity, or dental caries, occurs

 

TOOTH CAVITY VERSUS TOOTH DECAY

To understand the disease process, it is important to understand the nomenclature. In simple terms, let us imagine a worker digging the soil to make a pit. The act of digging the soil is a process, and after the process is completed, it results in the formation of a pit. Similarly, this analogy can be used for dental caries. Tooth decay is a process that occurs over a period of time, resulting in the formation of a tooth cavity

 

COMMON CAUSES OF TOOTH CAVITY

Causes of Tooth Cavity

All teeth, right from birth, are covered by a biofilm ( a layer of microorganisms). When disease - causing microorganisms dominate the biofilm formed on the tooth surface, it could result in the breakdown of the tooth structure. A healthy biofilm is regulated by a well balanced pH and the metabolic activity of the microorganisms. When it tips to a more acidic pH, problems arise. Some common causes that alter the pH and cause dental caries are:
 

 

All the above lead to acid attacks by bacteria on the tooth structure. Repeated acid attacks will result in the presence of dental caries

 

SYMPTOMS OF DENTAL CARIES

It is not easy to ignore something wrong within our mouths. At the same time, one may not show too many symptoms until active tooth destruction has begun. However, some main symptoms are
 

 

Abscess formation needs immediate treatment as it can cause facial swelling and even radiating pain through the face. Sometimes this may be even accompanied by fever

 

STAGES OF DENTAL CARIES

The tooth consists of three layers the outer enamel, the middle dentin layer, and the inner pulp chamber. The enamel layer is highly mineralized and is relatively more difficult to break down compared to the dentin and pulp. The pulp contains nerves, and hence one starts to feel pain as the disease lesion progresses closer to the pulp. During the initial stages of disease, only the outer enamel is affected; sometimes, with intervention, the disease progression can be stopped or even reversed. Once the lesion crosses the dentin layer, it becomes irreversible. The various stages of dental caries are
 

STAGE 1: Attack by white spots ( reversible stage)

STAGE 2: Enamel decay

STAGE 3: Involvement of dentin

STAGE 4: Involvement of pulp

STAGE 5: Abscess formation

 

CONSEQUENCES OF DENTAL CARIES

 

PREVENTION OF DENTAL CARIES - ORAL HYGIENE PRACTICES

Fluoride is a mineral that can prevent the progression of dental caries
 

An oral hygiene routine that may help is brushing teeth twice daily and flossing with an interdental cleaning aid. It is important to make smart food choices by limiting foods high in sugar and starches. Do not use tobacco in any form. If you do, please consider quitting. Most importantly, visit your dentist for regular checkups

 

A Note for Prevention of Early Childhood Caries in Babies:

Regularly clean and sponge your child’s mouth with a washcloth after every feed

 

What foods are good and bad for your teeth?

Good:

Bad:

 

TREATMENT OF DENTAL CARIES

When you visit a dentist and you are clinically diagnosed with dental caries, your dentist will advise you to get treated. The treatment depends on the extent of the lesion. They will get a radiograph of the involved tooth and decide on treatment accordingly
 

If you are prone to dental caries, talk to your dentist about dental medicines and fluoride varnishes for prevention

 

CONCLUSION

Conscious eating, good oral hygiene practices, and regular visits to your dentist for checkups will help you identify any problem at an early stage, thus warranting a conservative approach

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