If a person has rotten teeth, they appear unhealthy, not to mention the negative impact on their appearance. This condition is usually accompanied by bad breath and the gradual destruction of the teeth.
This process may continue for years, and eventually the patient may lose most of their teeth. In addition, serious complications and inflammation, such as a dental abscess (gum boil), may develop.
Why do teeth rot, and how can this be prevented?
Tooth Decay as the Main Cause of Rotten Teeth and Its Stages
The most common cause of tooth decay is dental caries.
Dental caries is caused by dental plaque, a sticky, colorless film that forms on the teeth. Dental plaque contains bacteria, and when these bacteria combine with the sugars found in food, they produce acids that attack the tooth structure.
If you do not remove sugars and starches from your teeth, bacteria quickly begin feeding on them and form dental plaque. Plaque that remains on the teeth can harden above or below the gum line and turn into tartar (dental calculus). Tartar makes plaque more difficult to remove and creates a protective shield for bacteria.
The acids produced by bacteria remove minerals from the hard outer enamel of the tooth. As a result of this erosion, tiny openings develop in the enamel. This is the first stage of tooth decay.
During the second stage, the tooth enamel begins to decay. If the destructive process continues, the enamel will continue to break down. You may notice that a white spot on the tooth becomes darker and turns brown. As the enamel weakens, cavities begin to form.
The third stage involves the breakdown of dentin. Dentin is the layer of tissue located beneath the enamel. It is softer than enamel, making it more vulnerable to acid damage. As a result, tooth decay progresses more rapidly once it reaches the dentin. Dentin also contains microscopic tubules that lead directly to the nerves of the tooth. When dentin is affected by decay, the tooth often becomes sensitive to hot and cold temperatures.
During the fourth stage, the decay reaches the pulp, the innermost layer of the tooth. The pulp contains nerves and blood vessels that help keep the tooth alive and healthy. When the pulp becomes damaged, it may become irritated and swollen. Since the surrounding hard tissues of the tooth cannot expand to accommodate this swelling, pressure builds up on the nerves, resulting in tooth pain.
The fifth stage is the formation of a dental abscess. As tooth decay progresses into the pulp, bacteria can spread and cause an infection. A dental abscess may cause severe pain that can radiate to the jaw. Swelling of the gums, face, or jaw, fever, and enlarged lymph nodes in the neck may also occur. A dental abscess requires immediate treatment because the infection can spread to the jawbone as well as other areas of the head and neck.
In advanced cases of tooth decay, the tooth may be completely destroyed, leaving only the roots behind. The affected teeth and retained roots become chronic sources of inflammation and infection.
What Symptoms Should You Pay Attention to in Order to Prevent Tooth Decay?
For a certain period of time, tooth decay may develop without causing any symptoms. This is why it is important to visit your dentist regularly. A dentist can detect and treat dental caries at an early stage, helping to stop further tooth decay.
Otherwise, the cavity in the tooth may gradually enlarge and spread into the deeper layers of the tooth.
In the later stages of tooth decay, the following symptoms may occur:
- toothache;
- sensitivity to hot or cold foods and drinks;
- brown, black, or white spots on the tooth;
- bad breath;
- swelling.
Tooth decay is not only a problem for adults. Teeth can also decay in infants, toddlers, and children. In children, the symptoms are generally similar to those seen in adults, but they may also include swollen gums, irritability, and fever, which may indicate an infection.
If your child seems irritable but cannot tell you exactly where the pain or discomfort is coming from, check their mouth carefully for signs of a dental problem.
Causes of Tooth Decay
If a person does not brush their teeth regularly and does not visit the dentist for routine check-ups, they have a significantly higher risk of developing dental caries.
A diet high in sugar and carbohydrates also contributes to tooth decay because these foods tend to stick to the teeth. Sugar feeds bacteria, and the more bacteria there are in the mouth, the more acid they produce. If you frequently consume sugary foods and do not brush your teeth regularly, the tooth enamel, which is the outer protective layer of the tooth, will break down more quickly.
Similarly, consuming large amounts of acidic beverages, such as carbonated soft drinks and fruit juices, can also contribute to tooth decay. The acids contained in these drinks gradually dissolve the tooth enamel.
Patients with acid reflux are also at a higher risk of developing dental caries and tooth decay. In this condition, stomach acid flows back into the esophagus and mouth, where it can erode the tooth enamel.
Anorexia and bulimia can also lead to enamel erosion, dental caries, and tooth decay. Stomach acid from repeated vomiting, known as purging, washes over the teeth and gradually dissolves the enamel. Eating disorders may also interfere with saliva production. When the salivary glands do not produce enough saliva to wash away plaque and bacteria, the risk of tooth decay increases significantly.
Tooth decay may also be associated with insufficient fluoride intake. Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel, making it more resistant to dental caries. For this reason, dental professionals recommend brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste and drinking fluoridated water whenever possible.
In young children, tooth decay may develop when they fall asleep with a bottle of milk, juice, or infant formula in their mouth, or when they use a pacifier that has been dipped in sugar or honey. In both cases, sugars accumulate around the teeth, promoting the development of dental caries.
Dental caries most commonly develops on the back teeth—molars and premolars. These teeth have numerous grooves, pits, and fissures, as well as multiple roots that can trap food particles. As a result, they are more difficult to clean than the easily accessible front teeth.
Older adults are also at a greater risk of developing tooth decay. Over time, teeth naturally wear down and the gums may recede, making teeth more vulnerable to decay. Older adults are also more likely to take medications that reduce saliva production, further increasing the risk of dental caries.
Treatment of Rotten Teeth
The treatment of rotten teeth is generally the same for both children and adults. The primary goal of treatment is to preserve the natural tooth whenever possible. The earlier a patient seeks dental care, the greater the chance of saving the tooth.
In the early stages of tooth decay (small cavities), the dentist may recommend fluoride treatment to strengthen or remineralize the tooth enamel, which can help stop the progression of dental caries. However, this method is effective only for very early lesions and is no longer suitable once other signs of tooth decay, such as dark or white spots on the tooth or persistent bad breath, have appeared.
If fluoride treatment is no longer appropriate, the dentist can remove the decayed portion of the tooth and restore it with a dental filling to repair the defect.
In the later stages of tooth decay, root canal treatment may be required, and in some cases, removal of the dental pulp (nerve) becomes necessary.
If the tooth is so severely damaged that it cannot be restored, the dentist may recommend extracting it.
Why Can a Tooth Decay Under a Crown or Filling?
Over time, dental restorations may weaken, begin to deteriorate, or develop rough edges. As a result, dental plaque accumulates more easily and becomes more difficult to remove.
Dental restorations may also lose their precise fit over time, allowing decay to begin underneath them.
Changes that occur beneath a dental crown may also be associated with improper manufacturing or placement of the crown. If the margins of the crown do not fit tightly against the tooth structure, dental plaque begins to accumulate in that area. Bacteria multiply within the plaque, eventually causing inflammation of the gums.
In addition, decayed tooth tissue may not have been completely removed before the crown was placed. In such cases, the tooth will continue to deteriorate underneath the crown.
Non-Carious Causes of Tooth Decay
Tooth damage can occur not only because of fluoride deficiency but also as a result of excessive fluoride exposure. In such cases, a patient may develop dental fluorosis. In severe forms of fluorosis, the teeth may begin to break down. The enamel develops pits, irregularities, and areas of erosion.
Damage to the teeth may also be associated with enamel hypoplasia, a developmental defect of the enamel that may occur in children as a result of allergies, rickets, or certain infectious diseases.
Acid erosion (acid necrosis) is another type of non-carious tooth damage. It may develop in people who work in industries involving exposure to strong acids or in patients who regularly take medications containing acidic substances. As a result of this condition, the front teeth gradually deteriorate and may appear rotten.
Smoking also contributes to tooth decay. Hot cigarette smoke contains corrosive toxic substances that gradually damage the outer layer of the enamel. The teeth develop an unnatural yellow discoloration and become covered with plaque. Multiple microscopic cracks form on the enamel surface, allowing bacteria to penetrate into the dentin, where they begin to destroy the tooth from within.
Tips for Protecting Your Teeth
- Limit snacking between meals. This reduces the number of acid attacks on your teeth and gives the enamel time to recover.
- Avoid excessive consumption of sugary foods and drinks.
- Be sure to brush your teeth twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste.
Do not eat or drink anything containing sugar after brushing your teeth before bedtime. Saliva - production decreases during sleep, and without sufficient saliva, the teeth are less able to recover from acid exposure.
- Quit smoking. Smoking significantly increases the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health problems.
- Visit your dentist regularly. Routine dental examinations allow tooth decay to be detected and treated at an early stage, helping to prevent tooth destruction and avoid serious complications.
This article does not replace a medical consultation. For complete and personalized information, please consult your dentist.