Tooth Decay: The Cause and Prevention

Tooth decay is one of the most common causes of tooth pain. It occurs when the enamel starts to break down because of bacteria that metabolize sugary foods into acids.

While tooth decay is highly preventable by keeping good oral hygiene, it can lead to infection or even tooth loss when left untreated.

Learn more about its causes and treatment options.

https://sunrise-dentistry.com/blog/tooth-decay-the-cause-and-prevention/

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Tooth cavity Decay dentist teeth dental

Tooth decay is one of the most common causes of tooth pain. It occurs when the enamel starts to break down because of bacteria that metabolize sugary foods into acids.

While tooth decay is highly preventable by keeping good oral hygiene, it can lead to infection or even tooth loss when left untreated.

Learn more about its causes and treatment options.

https://sunrise-dentistry.com/blog/tooth-decay-the-cause-and-prevention/

About ADMS

Advanced Digital Media

Tooth cavity Decay dentist teeth dental

Tooth Decay: 
The Cause and Prevention
B L O G  |  S U N R I S E  D E N T I S T R Y
https://sunrise-dentistry.com/
Last week I asked the hygienist what
was the most common question
patients ask her. She paused a
moment to think about it and then
said, “Do I have any cavities?”
And that brings us to cavities. What
causes them? How do we find them?
How do we fix them? How can we
prevent cavities from happening?
Cavities are also known as dental
caries and they can lead to a series of
sometimes problematic issues
including tooth and gum infections. A
cavity that becomes too deep can be
accompanied by considerable tooth
pain and if allowed to progress can
result in losing the affected tooth.
Dental decay is caused primarily by
Streptococcus mutans (SM) and
lactobacillus. The bacteria use refined
sugars, such as those found in soda,
sweetened juices, candy and other
desserts, and quick digesting grains
(such as wheat) and creates acid that
destroys the tooth from the enamel
(outer part of the tooth) to the dentin
(inner part of the tooth).
It seems strange to think that tooth
decay is actually a communicable,
infectious disease and it will also
spread from one tooth to the next if
you give it the chance. It can also be
spread to another person by kissing. 
Babies do not have these bacterias
until their birth when they are
exposed during the birthing process
and exposure outside the womb
during the first few months of life.
Another important cause of decay is
a poor diet (refined sugars and grains
top the list). A poor diet will cause
systemic changes that are not good
for our overall health, including our
dental health. 
These changes can make you much
more susceptible to the surface acid
attack mentioned above. Many
holistic dentists, including Dr.
Strietzel, are confident that diet is
the biggest factor in our dental
health or problems.
When dental decay starts, you often
cannot feel it. Sometimes it can be
seen or felt by a dental provider and
sometimes it is found through taking
x-rays of the tooth. X-rays show us
cavities in between the teeth (distal
and mesial) and visual examination
shows us cavities that are on the
other sides of the teeth (occlusal,
lingual and buccal/facial).
Once a cavity becomes deep enough
to pass through the dentin and
reaches the nerve in the pulp of the
tooth, the tooth may require a root
canal to clean out the infection. If the
cavity continues to grow larger the
infection spreads into the jawbone
and turns into an abscess. This
becomes incredibly painful. 
Usually, the abscess is first treated
with an antibiotic and once the
infection is quelled, the only options
for the tooth are a root canal or an
extraction. 
See our blog on missing teeth to learn
more about what happens once a
tooth is extracted. That’s a good
reason to address cavities before they
are allowed to progress into more
major (and more expensive) events.
Smooth surface decay develops when
regular flossing and brushing is
missing and as a result, bacteria is
allowed to grow creating plaque on
the smooth, flat surfaces of the teeth
and in between the teeth. The plaque,
if not brushed or flossed away, turns
into tartar which hardens on the
teeth. Tartar is also called dental
calculus.
Occlusal decay, also known as pit and
fissure decay, happens on the biting
surface of the tooth where grooves
and pits exist. These grooves and pits
are more prone to cavities because
they are more difficult to clean. These
cavities can easily become severe and
problematic if ignored. In treating
children, dentists will use sealants on
these pits and grooves in order to
protect the tooth from developing
cavities.
People who have gum recession are
more likely to develop root decay.
When the gum tissue recedes, it can
expose the root of the tooth, which is
more vulnerable to decay. The decay
forms on the surface of the root.
The standard treatment for a cavity is
to get a filling. Fillings can be either
amalgam (mercury) or composite.
Our office chooses not to use
amalgam for our fillings. A composite
material is made up of plastic resin
(we use BPA free) and crushed glass to
make them stronger. Older fillings
may be made up of ceramic and
plastic. A filling can involve one to five
surfaces of a tooth.
In most cases, the dental assistant will
place a topical anesthetic in the area
where the dentist will do an injection
of either septocaine or lidocaine. Once
the injection is done, there will be a
short wait of 5-10 minutes for the
numbing agent to take full effect
before the dentist can begin working
on the cavity.
Not all fillings require numbing and if
a filling can be done without
numbing, the dentist will give you the
option not to numb. During this time
the dental assistant will offer
headphones for you to pick some
music you like to listen to and some
lip balm, which she will apply to your
lips periodically throughout the
procedure.
When you are ready the dentist will
begin by drilling out the decay. Once
he is finished with this step, he will
use a special stain to indicate if there
is any further decay in the tooth and
will drill further if necessary. The
dentist will then apply an etchant to
prepare the tooth for the bond and
composite material.
Our office disinfects the area using
ozone to help control infection, before
drying the tooth, applying bond
material, and then applying the
composite material (in a shade as
close to your tooth color as possible).
The composite is tightly packed, often
in layers. A curing light is used to
harden the composite in between
each layer.
Once the filling is placed, the dentist
will grind away excess material and
shape the tooth. The bite will then be
checked using a type of carbon paper
to indicate where the surface of the
tooth may be hitting too hard or
uneven.
Any necessary adjustments will be
made then the dentist will floss
around the tooth to make sure
flossing is easy and that there is no
excess resin material in between the
teeth. This is especially important
when the filling is in between the
teeth. The last thing will be polishing
the tooth so it is smooth and your bite
may be checked one more time.
At the end of your appointment, you
will be given instructions, including
no hot or cold food or beverages for at
least an hour. You may be numb up to
four hours following your
appointment so you will be advised to
eat carefully since if you bite your
tongue or cheeks you may not be
aware of it due to the numbness.
Of course, ultimately you really want
to completely avoid having a cavity
altogether. The best way to prevent
tooth decay is with a healthy diet
with low or no refined sugars, and
daily brushing and flossing off all
your teeth. It should take no less than
two minutes to brush your teeth.
There has been evidence that
electronic toothbrushes are more
effective than manual brushing and
some electronic toothbrushes can be
used with an app that helps you spend
the right amount of time brushing,
lets you know if you are brushing too
hard and shows you areas where you
did not spend enough time. Sonicare
has an excellent brush.
Drinking more water can help wash
away bacteria that promotes tooth
decay. If you are a mouth breather or
if you suffer from the dry mouth you
are more prone to decay and drinking
more water can help mitigate this. If
you are prone to have higher bacteria
levels, your dentist may recommend
an antibiotic mouthwash be used to
keep bad bacteria in check.
Dental Sealants can protect teeth
from cavities. Many dentists do
fluoride treatments or recommend
fluoride toothpaste. Our office
emphasizes a healthy diet over the
use of fluoride. Regular checkups and
cleanings (twice a year or more if you
have periodontal issues) should be a
part of your preventive care.
If you are experiencing pain or
discomfort while chewing, sensitivity
to hot or cold, sudden pain, sensitivity
to sweet or sour or you don’t feel
anything different but you see
something different, such as a change
in color of a tooth or a spot on a tooth,
you should make an appointment
with your dentist to be evaluated and
to address any pending issue that may
be developing before it becomes too
serious.
dale@durangolive.net
EMAIL ADDRESS
(970) 247-3303
PHONE NUMBER
https://sunrise-dentistry.com/
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