When dental plaque turns sugars into acid, it damages a tooth. This condition is tooth decay. There is the softening of the tooth enamel in this condition. If you don’t have proper treatment for the loss of mineral from the enamel at a dental clinic in Salt Lake, there can be a cavity (a hole in the tooth). As time passes, the cavity may enlarge and ultimately destroy the whole tooth.
Plaque acids can attack the dentin and result in the formation of the root cavity if there are exposed roots and gum recessions. This exposes the nerves in your tooth and when you eat or drink anything, you can feel pain. It indicates some type of tooth decay if there is pain near the root of your tooth. One of the most common results of tooth decay is a dental cavity and it happens due to poor oral health.
Causes
Sugary, sticky foods and beverages are the major causes of tooth decay. The more sugar you consume, the more acid is generated. The combination of sugars and plaque weakens the enamel and increase the risk of tooth decay. The factors that can cause tooth decay are:
- Plaque formation: Plaque sticks to your teeth if you don’t remove it regularly by proper brushing and builds up over time. Plaque produces acid in the presence of sugar. This acid can ultimately cause holes (cavities) in your teeth.
- Dry mouth: The plaque gets washed from the teeth by saliva and it also protects the teeth from the acid. If you have a dry mouth due to very little saliva, there can be a build-up of plaque and tooth bacteria within a short time. You can get more information about this from the specialist attached to the smile dental clinic in Salt Lake.
- Eating and drinking: Food particles cling to your teeth even after you eat and these particles contain mostly carbohydrates. If you don’t brush properly and remove the food particles, these can cause tooth cavities.
- Medical causes: When your head and neck are exposed to radiation during cancer treatment, it can cause tooth cavity. This is because the radiation changes the amount and consistency of saliva, which results in faster bacterial growth.
Treatment
You can treat tooth decay in the early stage (when cavities have not formed) by:
- Reducing the frequency of your consumption of sugary foods and drinks
- Brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day
There are different treatment options available at the best dental clinic in Salt Lake for cavities that form in your teeth.
- The dentist may fill the cavity or cover the tooth after removing the tooth decay.
- Root canal treatment may be necessary if tooth decay spreads to the centre of the tooth. This is the area where blood and nerves are present.
- The dentist may have to replace a tooth when its damage is beyond repair.