If you happen to encounter symptoms of tooth decay, you should consider it a dental emergency and visit your dental care professional immediately. Typically, it affects the back molars which face most of the required chewing force.
Food particles can often get stuck in the recesses and grooves of the chewing surface. Maintaining good oral hygiene is one of the best ways to avoid tooth decay. Living in Texas, you can visit ABC123 Dental in Haltom City for tooth decay treatment at affordable prices.
Causes and Symptoms of Tooth Decay
Tooth decay can be a direct result from cavities and bacterial deposits. The food particles that get stuck in the teeth attract bacteria and the residual deposits will form a sticky colorless plaque. This is easy to get rid of with regular brushing and flossing.
However, if left as is, it turns into tartar which is harder to clean conventionally and requires the expert hands of a dental hygienist.
Plaque and tartar wears down the enamel over time and this happens from the surface down. Once the deposits enamel, it can infect the sensitive pulp chamber below and cause considerable pain.
This chamber also houses the nerves so the pain is quite intense and your only mode of recovery from this point on is to get root canal therapy done by a professional dentist. The basic symptoms of tooth decay include intense toothache, persistent bad breath and possible cavities.
What to Expect During Tooth Decay Treatment
There are three stages to tooth decay essentially. In the early stages, you can get away with minimal treatments, but if it has progressed, you have to opt for more drastic measures.
Typically, your dentist conducts the tooth decay treatment in the following ways.
- Treating the early stage of decay, your dentist might review your diet and check the daily sugar intake. A fluoride gel, varnish or paste is applied to the area. Fluoride helps to protect teeth by strengthening the enamel, making your teeth more resistant to the acids from plaque that can cause tooth decay.
- If the decay is partial, your dentist might attempt to remove the decayed part and fix the leftover tooth with fillings and root canal therapy. If tooth decay has spread to the pulp (in the center of the tooth, containing blood and nerves), root canal is a very effective solution in this case.
- Sometimes when the decay has progressed far, the tooth in question cannot be repaired and will need to be removed. Your dentist will prescribe an implant or a bridge to replace the missing portion. For a set of missing teeth, dentures are a good cost effective option.
Avoid Tooth Decay with Good Hygiene and Oral Care
There are some mouthwashes and toothpastes that can cause decay in your teeth and you can avoid them with products that have been prescribed by your dentist.
Habits like smoking and drinking contain elements that are harmful for your teeth and are best avoided.
Avoiding tooth decay requires you to follow good oral hygiene.Sugary foods are a tooth’s greatest enemy and this is why children run the risk of developing cavities the most.
You can follow a good diet, maintain proper hygiene, and regularly check up with your dental care professional to ensure that your teeth are in good condition.
