Dental cavities remain the most prevalent chronic disease ailing both children and adults alike.
You can get cavities if you do not maintain proper oral health and hygiene, particularly if you do not make it a habit of visiting your dentist for a routine checkup.
The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research reports that 1 in 5 adults aged 20 to 64 years have at least one untreated cavity, whereas 50 percent of all children aged between 6 and 9 years are likely to have decayed primary teeth. Tooth decay can affect your tooth and cause complications with tissues around the tooth, infection, and in severe cases, tooth loss.
Read on to learn more about cavities so that you can keep an eye out for any early signs of tooth decay and possibly even reverse the process of decay.
Understanding tooth decay
What is a cavity?
A cavity is a hole in a tooth that develops from tooth decay, and subsequent tooth damage. Also known as dental caries, cavities are areas on the tooth surface that have been worn down by acids in your mouth.
Cavities can form when bacteria in your mouth stick to your teeth each time you eat or drink. These bacteria then produce acid that starts to eat away at the outer enamel layer of your teeth. If left untreated for a long time, they can develop into cavities and weaken your tooth structure.
While they can affect any individual, the Mayo Clinic outlines that cavities are more common in children and teenagers, due to a lack of regular oral hygiene practices and weaker tooth enamel.
Types of tooth cavities
The type of cavity is determined by the location where they occur. There are mainly three types of dental cavities, namely:
- Smooth surface caries: This type of cavity is slow-progressing and typically develops between two teeth. It is preventable and can be reversed if caught early with the help of proper oral hygiene.
- Pit and fissure caries: Cavities that form on the chewing surfaces of the teeth are called pit and fissure cavities. This type of decay develops early on in life and grows quickly; often the decay reaches the inner dental layers when it is caught.
- Root caries: This is usually a condition that develops in adults who have receding gums. Due to the recession or “pulling back” of the gums, the teeth roots are exposed to dental plaque and bacterial acid. This causes decay of the roots. It is very difficult to treat and almost impossible to prevent. People who are prone to gum disease should visit their periodontist to lower their risk of root decay.
Causes of tooth decay
Risk factors
Anyone is at risk of tooth decay but some risk factors can increase your chances:
- Location of the tooth: Decay occurs most often in your rear molars and premolars. The nooks and crannies of these teeth can collect food debris and plaque, making it harder for you to clean them than your front, easily accessible teeth.
- Certain foods and drinks: Sticky foods like honey, sugar, or dried fruits can cling to your teeth. These foods are difficult to get washed away by saliva, causing decay where they accumulate.
- Bedtime feeding for kids: When babies are bottle-fed with milk or juice that contains sugar, these beverages can remain on their teeth surfaces for a long time as they sleep. The type of decay that ensues is called baby bottle tooth decay.
- Poor oral hygiene: If you’re not brushing or flossing your teeth regularly, especially after eating or drinking, you may develop cavities.
- Frequent snacking: If you snack on foods or sip sugary drinks a lot, you are at a higher risk of getting cavities.
- Certain ages: Older adults are more likely to develop dental decay because their teeth are worn down and gums recede with time. Decay is also common in younger kids because of thinner and softer enamel on primary teeth.
- Low salivary flow: Saliva helps prevent caries by washing away the food remnants from your teeth surfaces. If your mouth is typically dry or due to certain medications, you are at risk of developing cavities.
- Certain systemic conditions: If you suffer from heartburn or eating disorders that can result in repeating vomiting or acid reflux, stomach acid can wash over the teeth and cause them to break down, over time.
- Worn-out fillings: When a tooth is filled, it is expected to last anywhere between 3 and 10 years, depending on the type of restoration. Over the years, fillings can weaken or loosen and you may find decay around the edges.
Stages of tooth decay
Dental decay is a process that occurs over a certain period of time. The stages of cavity formation can look something like this:
Formation of plaque:
The earliest stages of tooth decay begin with the production of a sticky substance called dental plaque. The bacteria normally found in the mouth converts food products like starch and sugar into acids.
The combination of the broken-down food particles, bacteria, and saliva form the dental plaque, a clear sticky film that coats the teeth. It can be commonly found on the back teeth or just above the gum line of all teeth.
Acid attacks on the tooth enamel:
Plaque, if not removed for an extended period of time can harden to form tartar that deposits below the gum line.
Tartar is much harder to remove and can act as a protective shield for the bacteria. Interestingly, plaque can build up within just 20 minutes of eating.
Over time, the acids from the bacteria can remove the tooth’s minerals and cause decay. The formation of tiny holes in the enamel is the first stage of cavities. As the tooth decay progresses, so do the areas of tooth decay.
As the enamel is worn away, the decay reaches the inner portion of the tooth, the dentin. This is the second layer of the tooth and is softer than the enamel, therefore is also more vulnerable to the effects of the acids.
Involvement of the inner tooth layers:
Once the dentin is infiltrated, the decay can easily invade the center of the tooth structure, called the tooth pulp. The pulp is a living tissue that contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue.
The bacteria can irritate the pulp, causing it to swell. Due to the increased pressure within the pulp chamber, you may experience tooth pain. Depending on the severity of tooth decay, you may also feel pain radiating to the surrounding bone and nearby teeth.
Signs and symptoms of tooth cavities
You may not have any symptoms if the tooth decay is arrested only on the enamel layer of the tooth. However, as the decay progresses inward, you may experience some symptoms like:
- Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
- Toothache or pain in the mouth
- Bleeding gums
- Severe decay can cause swollen gums (tooth abscess)
- Facial swelling
- Tooth hypersensitivity to cold or hot temperatures
- Untimely or early tooth loss
Treatment options
The treatment of cavities varies with the severity of the condition.
Fluoride: Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that helps prevent cavities and reverse the early stages of tooth damage. Fluoride treatment may help repair any damaged enamel if you catch your tooth decay in the very early stages in a process called remineralization.
Dental fillings: If you have a cavity, your dentist will drill out the decayed material from a tooth and fill the hole with filling material.
Composite resin (tooth-colored) works best in both the front and back teeth because of its aesthetic as well as high-strength properties. You may also get silver amalgam or gold fillings, based on your particular needs.
Root canal treatment: If your cavity is severe and has caused an abscess to form, you may be eligible for a procedure called root canal therapy.
In this treatment, endodontists remove the decayed tooth material and then proceed to remove the pulp of the tooth. They then fill the empty canals with artificial filling materials.
You may have to get a dental crown following a root canal to protect the tooth from fracturing. Porcelain fused to metal or pure porcelain crowns are some of your options.
Tooth extraction: In cases where a root canal treatment is not possible, you may be given the option to extract the tooth. You may need to get a dental implant or a dental bridge to replace your missing tooth.
Prevention
The American Dental Association recommends all individuals to follow a strict oral hygiene regimen that consists of the following steps:
- Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day.
- Floss your teeth regularly to get rid of food debris in hard-to-reach areas.
- Cut back on sugary, sticky, and starchy foods and drinks.
- Make dental visits with your dentist at least twice a year to help prevent cavities.
- Dental sealants applied to the chewing surface of the teeth can help protect against further damage.
Conclusion
Dental cavities are holes in your teeth that can be a cause for concern if left untreated. Save your tooth from cavities by learning the symptoms and causes. Prevent tooth decay by booking regular dental consultations.
