What is tooth decay?
Tooth decay is pretty much that "tooth bug," that black spot or brown spot, or sometimes even a white or yellow spot. It starts when plaque, food particles, and bacteria accumulate on the teeth, especially when a patient's oral hygiene is not necessarily optimal.
The bacteria in your mouth interact with sugars and carbohydrates and produce acids that can begin breaking down the tooth. This is especially important between the teeth, where flossing becomes super, super important. Over time, those acids can start to damage the first layer of the tooth, which is enamel. Enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, but once decay gets through it, the tooth can become weaker on the inside.
I sometimes compare it to an eggshell. The shell on the outside can still look really hard, but underneath, the structure may be breaking down. Eventually, that outer shell can crumble because the tooth underneath is no longer strong. That's pretty much what tooth decay is.
What causes tooth decay?
There are a lot of different factors that can contribute to tooth decay. Some people may be more susceptible to cavities because of factors such as their tooth structure, saliva, oral bacteria, diet, and other individual characteristics.
With children, oral hygiene is extremely important. Putting a child to bed with a bottle containing milk, formula, or another sugary drink can increase the risk of tooth decay because the teeth are exposed for a long period of time. Frequent snacking can also contribute to cavities, especially when we're talking about sugary or carbohydrate-rich foods.
Other things that can increase the risk of dental decay include:
- Poor oral hygiene
- Frequent snacking or sugar consumption
- Not keeping up with regular dental visits
- Older or failing dental restorations
- Misaligned or crowded teeth that are difficult to brush and floss
- Dry mouth or other conditions that affect the oral environment
There are tons of reasons why people can develop cavities, but oral hygiene, diet, and regular dental care are definitely important.
What are the signs and symptoms of tooth decay?
One of the first signs of tooth decay can be a change in the appearance of a tooth. When you see something that looks different, please see your dentist. Tooth decay can sometimes appear as white, brown, or dark areas on the tooth.
Pain and sensitivity can also be signs. Cold sensitivity is a big one, as well as sensitivity when biting or eating sweets. Sometimes people will say, "I feel a little bit of a zap here and there" when they eat something sweet or cold.
Some people are more sensitive to cavities than others, and sometimes there are no signs or symptoms at all. You may simply go in for a regular dental visit and your dentist detects an early cavity. That's why early detection is so important. Generally speaking, sensitivity to cold or sweets can be an indication that something needs to be evaluated.
How can tooth decay affect your overall health?
I always say that the mouth, or the oral cavity, is connected to the rest of the body. You can't just detach the mouth from the heart, brain, lungs, or other parts of your body. Your oral health and overall health can affect one another.
If your overall health isn't well controlled, such as with certain chronic health conditions, it can affect your oral health, especially healing, gum health, and bone health. At the same time, untreated dental disease and infection can affect your health and quality of life. Everything is connected, and it's very important that people don't take care of everything else while forgetting about their teeth.
Growing up, I saw how easily oral health could become the last priority. People around me were focused on having a roof over their heads or being able to afford food, and dental care wasn't always something they could prioritize. I was very fortunate that my parents were educated about oral health and made sure we went to our dental appointments.
I still see similar situations today. We have parents and adults with significant treatment needs, and sometimes time and finances get between us and the patient. We keep educating them. I keep advocating for them, and my team does as well. Unfortunately, sometimes we watch someone's oral health deteriorate year after year until we reach a point where there are fewer treatment options available.
If you have a good set of natural teeth, keep them. Your natural teeth are worth protecting, and prevention is one of the best things we can do.
Can early tooth decay be reversed?
If tooth decay is in the very early stages, it doesn't necessarily return completely to normal, but in some cases we can stop or arrest the process before a traditional filling is needed. I'm a very hardcore believer in prevention. Early prevention is better than drilling because as soon as you drill on a tooth, that natural tooth structure does not grow back.
For very early decay, we may recommend a prescription-strength toothpaste along with very specific brushing and flossing instructions. Depending on the stage of the decay, these preventive measures may help remineralize weakened enamel and stop the cavity from progressing.
Once decay gets through the hard enamel and reaches the softer layer underneath, called dentin, we're more likely to need restorative treatment. I'm a hardcore believer in preventive and conservative methods whenever they're appropriate, but sometimes we do have to intervene because the decay has progressed too far.
What are the treatments for tooth decay?
Treatment for tooth decay depends on how far the cavity has progressed and how much healthy tooth structure remains.
If the cavity is relatively small, we may be able to remove the decay and restore the tooth with a dental filling. As more tooth structure is lost, the tooth becomes weaker, and a dental crown may be necessary to protect and rebuild it.
If the decay progresses into the center of the tooth where the pulp and nerve are located, root canal treatment may be necessary to save the tooth. If the tooth becomes too severely damaged to restore, extraction may ultimately be necessary.
That's why we want to treat tooth decay as early as possible. The sooner we find it, the more conservative the treatment can usually be.
How do I stop a tooth cavity from spreading?
First of all, go to your appointments with your dentist. Don't skip an appointment. Again, early detection beats everything that we do.
The second thing is to stick to your oral hygiene regimen. Oral hygiene is maintenance. When you get any procedure done or buy something new, if you don't maintain it, eventually it's going to break down. Your teeth and dental work also need regular maintenance.
If you see early signs of tooth decay, make sure you mention them to your dentist and get them evaluated right away. Don't let them go. Depending on the situation, we may also recommend things you can do at home, such as a prescription-strength toothpaste and changes to your brushing and flossing routine.
It all starts with visiting your dentist regularly so you don't let decay progress, but it also means sticking to a good oral hygiene routine and educating the people around you so they can take care of their teeth too.
Are tooth cavities painful?
The answer is not always. We see many patients with very small cavities, sometimes called incipient or early cavities, and those usually don't hurt. Again, early prevention beats everything we do.
Once a patient starts feeling pain or significant sensitivity, the decay may have progressed beyond those earliest stages and could require restorative treatment. Just like the air around us, just because you don't see something or feel it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
That's why, if you have a dental appointment, don't skip it. If you can't make it, make sure you reschedule. You don't want to wait for a cavity to hurt before having it evaluated. Regular dental exams give us the opportunity to find tooth decay early, when we may have more conservative options for treating it.
At MA Dental, you come first. Whether you need dental care or simply have questions, call us at (951) 467-4399 or email [email protected] to schedule your visit. Our team is here to help you every step of the way.