Tooth decay causes bad effect to person’s health and appearance. It is usually accompanied with bad breath and gradual tooth decay.
The process can last for years, and eventually ends up in the patient’s losing most of their teeth, serious complications and inflammation, such as flux.
Why do teeth get decayed and how to prevent it.
Caries as the main cause of tooth decay and its stages
The most common cause of tooth decay is caries.
Caries is caused by plaque, which is a sticky, colorless film that forms on the teeth. Plaque contains bacteria, and when these bacteria mix with sugar in food, an acid, destroying the tooth is formed.
If teeth are not properly cleaned from sugar and starch, bacteria quickly start feeding on them and form plaque. The plaque that remains on teeth can harden under or above the gum line and form tartar. Tartar makes it harder to remove plaque and creates a shield for bacteria.
The acids of the bacteria remove minerals from the hard outer enamel of the tooth. Following such erosion, tiny holes appear in the tooth enamel. This is the first stage of caries.
At the second stage, enamel rot may be visible on the tooth surface. In the continuous process further enamel decay occurs. White spot on the tooth darkens and turns brown. As the enamel weakens, holes may form inside the teeth.
The third stage results in dentin decay. Dentin is the tissue that lies beneath the enamel. Dentin is softer than enamel, which makes it more susceptible to acid damage. Because of this, the disease spreads faster when it reaches the dentin. Dentin also contains tubes that lead to the nerves of the tooth. When the dentin is affected by caries, the tooth becomes sensitive to cold and hot.
The fourth stage involves damage to the inner layer of the tooth – the pulp. The pulp contains nerves and blood vessels that help keep the tooth healthy. When the pulp is damaged, it can become irritated and swollen. Since the surrounding tooth tissue cannot expand to accommodate this swelling, pressure can be applied to the nerves. That is what causes pain.
Finally, an abscess begins. When caries moves into the pulp, bacteria can spread and cause infection. Tooth abscesses may cause severe pain that can radiate to the jaw.
There may also be swelling of the gums, face or jaw, fever and swollen lymph nodes in the neck. An abscessed tooth requires immediate treatment, as the infection can spread to the jaw bones and other areas of the head and neck.
In case of advanced caries, the tooth may be completely destroyed, and only the roots may remain. The affected teeth and remaining roots are chronic foci of inflammation and infection.
What symptoms should be looked out for to prevent tooth decay
Caries may go unnoticed for a period, so it is important to visit your dentist regularly. The dentist can detect and treat caries in time to stop further tooth rot.
Otherwise, the tooth cavity may grow and gradually affect the deeper layers of the tooth.
In the later stages of caries, the following symptoms may occur:
- toothache;
- sensitivity to hot or cold;
- brown, black or white spots on the tooth;
- bad breath;
- swelling.
Tooth decay is a problem not only for adults, but also for babies, toddlers and children. Symptoms in children’s cases are generally the same as in adult’s ones, but can also include swollen gums, irritability and fever, which indicates an infection.
If your child seems irritable but can’t point to the exact spot of pain or discomfort, have their mouth checked for signs of a problem.
Causes of tooth decay
If teeth are not brushed properly and ones skip regular dental visit, they are at high risk of caries.
A diet high in sugar and carbohydrates can also contribute to tooth decay because these elements stick to the teeth. Sugar also feeds bacteria, and the more bacteria you have in your mouth, the more acid it gets. If you eat a lot of sugary foods and don’t brush your teeth regularly, your tooth enamel, which is the outer layer of your tooth, will decay faster.
Consuming a lot of acidic drinks (soda and juices) has a similar effect. Acid in drinks can slowly dissolve tooth enamel.
Patients, suffering from acid reflux, which implies returning stomach acid to the esophagus and mouth, thus, destroying tooth enamel, are at high risk of tooth decay.
Anorexia and bulimia can also lead to tooth erosion, caries and decay. Stomach acid from repeated vomiting, called purging, washes the teeth and begins to eat away at the enamel. Eating disorders can also interfere with saliva production. And if your salivary glands don’t produce enough saliva to wash away plaque and bacteria in your mouth, your risk of tooth rot and caries increases.
Tooth decay is also caused by a lack of fluoride in the body. Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel, making it resistant to caries. That is why experts recommend brushing teeth with fluoride toothpaste and drinking water containing fluoride.
Children’s caries can be the result of falling asleep with a bottle of milk, juice or formula in their mouths, or with a pacifier dipped in sugar or honey. In both cases, sugar can build up around the teeth and lead to caries.
Most often, caries occurs on the back teeth – the molars and premolars. These teeth have a lot of grooves, pits and cracks, as well as several roots that can collect food particles. That is why they are more difficult to keep clean than easily accessible front teeth.
Older people are at a greater risk of developing caries. Over time, teeth can wear down and the gums can recede, increasing the likelihood of tooth decay. Older people may also use more medications that reduce saliva production, which increases the risk of caries.
Treatment of tooth decay
The treatment of tooth decay is usually the same for children and adults. The goal of the treatment is primarily to save the tooth. The sooner a person visits a doctor, the better the chances of saving the tooth.
At the early stages of tooth decay (minor caries), the dentist can perform fluoride treatment to strengthen or demineralize the tooth enamel, which can stop the development of caries.
However, this method only works for small cavities and is not effective if there are other signs of decay, such as dark or white spots on the tooth and bad breath.
If fluoride treatment is not available, the dentist may remove the affected parts of the tooth and place a filling to repair the defect in the tooth.
At later stages, root canal treatment and even nerve removal may be necessary. If the tooth gets badly damaged and cannot be saved, the dentist may extract it.
Why does a tooth get decayed under a crown or filling
With the time, dental structures can become weaker, begin to decay, or have rough edges. This makes plaque easier to form and harder to remove.
Dental appliances may no longer fit well, and decay may occur underneath.
Changes in the tooth under the crown are associated with a violation of the technology of its manufacture. If the edges of the crown do not fit snugly against the tooth tissue, plaque begins to accumulate in that area, where microorganisms multiply, leading to gum disease.
Moreover, carious tissues may not be completely removed. Then the tooth under the crown will continue to decay.
Non-carious causes of tooth decay
Dental disease can may be provoked by a lack of fluoride, as well as its excess. Hense, the patient may develop fluorosis. In the severe form of this disease, a person’s teeth may decay. Pits, bumps, and erosions form on the enamel.
Also, tooth damage can be associated with hypoplasia (disruption of the enamel structure), which occurs in children with allergies, after rickets and certain infectious diseases.
Acid necrosis is another type of non-carious tooth damage. It affects people who work in hazardous production of various acids and in patients taking medications containing acids. As a result, the front teeth decay and look rotten.
Smoking also contributes to tooth decay. Hot cigarette smoke, which contains caustic toxic substances, destroys the surface layer of enamel. The teeth become unnaturally yellow and covered with plaque. Multiple microcracks form on them, where bacteria penetrate and begin to destroy dentin.
Tips for protecting your teeth
- Limit snacks between meals, which will reduce the number of acid attacks on your teeth and give your teeth a chance to recover.
- Have reasonable amount of sugary foods.
- Be sure to brush your teeth twice a day.
- Avoid sweet drinks or food after brushing your teeth before bed-time. The flow of saliva decreases during sleep, and without enough saliva, teeth have a harder time recovering from acid exposure.
- Give up smoking.
- Be sure to visit the dentist to prevent tooth decay and its complications.