Cavities, of course, are one of the most common dental woes and firmly, 1 in 4 of all ages suffer from these. It has been observed that people usually ignore cavities initially, considering it a normal tooth decay. I mean, come on, it’s not the same as the small dent on your car that you can ignore for days and months. The tooth cavity can worsen after a few weeks and can lead to a second cavity instantaneously. A cavity doesn’t just go away on its own; you’ll have to treat it anyway, no matter how harmless it looks!
Well, if you think you can’t understand what’s the cause, how to prevent and fight cavities, here we are to guide you through.
First things first—What are cavities?
A cavity is more than a small hole on the hard surface of your tooth. According to Dental Bacteriology, our mouth is colonized by nearly 300 bacterial species. Few are responsible for dental decay, caries, or other periodontal diseases out of those. Streptococcus mutans are one of the most common bacteria that reside on the surface of your teeth. This bacteria forms a sticky layer on the surface of the teeth, commonly called “plaque,” and converts the sugar (that we eat) into acid. Consequently, the acid wears down and removes the minerals that make your teeth’ enamel strong.
And as the protective layer (enamel) has been penetrated, the acid will start destroying the dentin layer. Therefore, it causes tooth cavity and sometimes eats away your teeth if not treated timely.
Pre-cavity helps in early detection!
Aforementioned, when bacteria reach the inner dentin layer, it results in damage to the enamel of your tooth, which is known as a pre-cavity. These Pre-cavities are basically the first sign of potential tooth problems. And that can be easily detected when you go for regular checkups. And if you won’t go for its treatments, things can be off-limits. Once the pre-cavity stage is over, you can experience more cavities; teeth may turn brown and dark, trouble eating pain, and consequently tooth loss. An untreated tooth cavity can decay the tooth’s pulp, leading to more serious dental conditions.
Types of cavities
While drinking ice-cold beverages or consuming something cold, you feel a slight twinge and mostly ignore that, but frankly, you shouldn’t be! You might have sensitive teeth, and that shot of pain symbolizes one of your least favorite things, i.e., tooth cavity. Here you go with three types of cavities.
Smooth Surface Cavities
The smooth parts of your teeth, especially the sides, can decay due to sticky plaque. This type of tooth cavity comes from regular eating and drinking habits. We can’t avoid eating and drinking, but we can maintain dental hygiene. Make sure you brush and floss twice a day to keep your teeth healthy.
Pit Cavities
You might have seen some of your molars and premolars have minor grooves, i.e., pits and fissures; these basically help to chew and tear food. Apparently, that food and bacteria can get stuck in them quickly. So it is being advised to brush thoroughly and get off the stuck food particles to avoid painful cavities.
Root Cavities
Roots are responsible for keeping your teeth healthy and, if not taken care of, can cause tooth decay. As the name suggests, decay at the root of the teeth is called root cavity. As the roots of your teeth lack protective enamel and cavities grow more often here.
How can cavities be treated?
Dentistry provides us with different types of tooth cavity treatments like; Cavity filling, Dental crowns, Root canals, and tooth extractions. So if you’re looking for dental care, we would love to recommend you “Nikahd Dental.” They offer dental services like cosmetic dentistry, restorative dentistry, general and even emergency dentistry!
