Did you know that 95% of the adult population has had some form of dental caries at some point in their lives? Tooth decay is regarded as one of the most common diseases in the world, both in terms of its impact on people’s oral and overall health.
Tooth decay is a bacterial disease that causes the enamel and the dentin of the teeth to deteriorate. When bacteria that have attached themselves to the surface of the tooth produce acids, these acids erode the dental enamel and, in the most severe cases, can even penetrate the interior of the tooth and reach the nerve.
This is a very painful condition. If it is not stopped, there is a possibility that teeth will be damaged.
The most effective way to treat cavities is to prevent them from occurring in the first place by taking care of the teeth daily and having a healthy oral hygiene routine with products for dental health such as retainer brite and many others. Also, we recommend you see your dentist every three or every six months at least.
In this article, we would like to talk about this disease that is fairly common in order to provide you with all the information you know to help prevent it and take care of your oral health.
How does this cavity known as caries develop in our teeth?
Bacterial plaque which in turn is produced by the accumulation of bacteria and food debris on our teeth is the cause of dental caries, which is also known as dental decay.
Inadequate oral hygiene causes plaque to accumulate in greater and greater quantities, which results in the production of acids that erode tooth enamel and cause our teeth to become more fragile.
If we do not treat caries when it is in its early stages, there is a chance that it will spread throughout the tooth, and there is also a chance that we will lose the tooth.
Various forms of dental caries
There are three forms of dental caries:
- Crown caries are the most common type of caries found in both children and adults. They are distinguished from other types of caries by the fact that they develop on the surface of the teeth.
- Root caries is a condition that manifests itself when the gums recede and expose the root of the tooth.
- Recurrent caries are those that form around the areas of a tooth that have previously been filled in with amalgam or composite resin.
What kind of treatment can help it?
When both the enamel and the dentin have been affected by caries, the entire infected part of the tooth needs to be removed, and then the tooth needs to be reconstructed using a composite filling.
Because these materials adhere to the tooth more effectively than other types of mental amalgams and also achieve a color that is similar to that of the tooth, they are virtually undetectable to the human eye.
Endodontic therapy is what would be recommended in the event that caries have progressed to the pulp of the tooth. Accessing the pulp, removing all of the vascular and nerve tissue, including from the root canals, and then cleaning those canals are the steps involved in endodontics.
After that, the space is stuffed with bacteriostatic material in order to stop the infection from spreading further. In order to provide adequate protection for the tooth, it may on occasion be necessary to place a crown or cap on it.
What can you do to avoid caries?
- You should brush your teeth for two to three minutes after each meal.
- One time per day at least, you should floss your teeth and rinse them with mouthwash.
- Make an appointment with your dentist at least once every six to twelve months.
- Cut back significantly, if not completely, on your consumption of sugary products.
The Bottom Line
Our teeth are something essential that helps us chew beside their different shape and size. Most of the time we don’t pay attention to them as much as to other things such as our body shape, but they are important the same.
Your friends and relatives may tell you constantly that you have nice white teeth, though you shouldn’t stop there. It may happen that you don’t have pain and everything is alright, but regular checkups are a must if you want to keep your dental health good and prevent dental disease.
Besides regular checkups, you should also focus on having a healthier diet which includes a lot of vegetables and fruits that are full of water and vitamins such as watermelon. Using quality products is also important and brushing your teeth after each meal will help with the removal of the plaque. And also as we mentioned above, try to cut on consuming sugary foods.