That tiny hole in your tooth isn’t so tiny. Tooth decay in its early stages, a tiny cavity, might not seem like a real concern and it can be symptom free. But it will never stop decaying! When you delay treatment, bacteria chew at your tooth on a daily basis until that tiny cavity turns into a big, costly, painful, problem. If you’ve postponed treatment because of a cavity, watch what tooth decay looks like from the inside out, and maybe you’ll find motivation to fixing tooth decay today.
Stage One: Enamel Weakens
It is during this decaying that bacteria produce acid that dissolves minerals from the surface of your teeth (enamel). You will find a soft white discoloration that has a chalky appearance and which you will notice to be not sensitive in any way! This stage of decaying is where you will find the most time to repair however it’s the stage everyone misses because you aren’t feeling any pain!
Stage Two: A Cavity Forms
If the attack persists, that deficient enamel matrix will begin to crumble and a small cavity will be made. There’s nothing you can do about that, that will be a permanent feature and the dentist will clear out all the decay and then the cavity can generally be restored the same day, which is now the easiest and cheapest stage to treat.
Stage Three: Dentin Becomes Rotten
Dentin- Dentin is a lot less hard than the top most layer of the tooth, enamel, and so will decay much quicker. If bacteria manage to get access to the dentin, the hole is on the rapid road to opening up- you’ll notice a sensitivity to hot, cold or sweet foods or a dull, throbbing toothache.
Stage Four: The Nerve Gets Infected
Your decay has progressed to the point where it has invaded the pulp, the living tissue inside your tooth that contains blood vessels and nerves. With this much decay, pain may be persistent, even long after you have consumed hot or cold beverages. Your tooth is no longer salvageable and will require a root canal.
Fifth Stage: An Abscess Develops
It can extend beyond the root tip and develop a collection of infection called an abscess inside the gum or bone. Signs and symptoms of root tip abscess include a very painful tooth or swelling on the face, swelling of the gum, lump in the gum, bad taste and fever. The abscess is a dangerous condition and has to be treated immediately.
Other Possible Perils of Teeth
Not addressed the infection can spread to the jaw, neck, or in the most extreme cases, the bloodstream or the brain. If the swelling worsens and lasts for a long period of time, this can cause difficulties in breathing and swallowing, and is an immediate reason to head to the emergency room. Long term dental infection has also been connected with other health conditions.
Tooth Loss and Effects
If it’s so decayed that we can’t save it, you may end up having to lose the tooth. And once it’s gone, you’ll have trouble chewing and speaking and it’ll change your appearance. And there’s a good chance the rest of the teeth will try to move into the space and the bone under your gums will start to shrink away. Restoring it with a bridge, denture or implant will take more time and money you’d rather not spend.
The Cost of Waiting
It is more costly at every stage. The least expensive of all would be simply to fill the tooth. It would be more expensive to crown the tooth. It would be more costly to have root canal treatment with a crown and more again to have an extraction and an implant.
Loss of Quality of Life on a Daily Basis
If you are severely decayed, your teeth may be painful, disrupt your sleep, damage your self-confidence, and give you bad breath or have impact on your concentration and mood. You may not want to smile or talk to others. With the procedure of restorations, your decayed teeth will be healthy, and you’ll enjoy back your comfort and confidence.
Techniques to Prevent Decay in the Beginning
Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, floss daily, cut back on sugary foods and drinks, no sipping liquids and drink lots of water. Ask your dentist about fluoride treatments and sealants, if you are susceptible to cavities. And visit your dentist regularly–the dentist is the one who can catch decay brewing before you even realize it’s there.
Conclusion
Cavities go from a tiny hole to an infection to a lost tooth- all in one step at a time. And each step adds more complexity and increased cost to treat it, but catching it early can avoid all that. Don’t wait till it hurts to have it fixed. See us for a Dental Check Up Near Me every six months to find those cavities before they start!
FAQs
1. Can You Get Rid of Tooth Decay Without Treatment?
You can only take out the cavities and decayed enamel with fluoride and getting a brush. If you get a cavity, then you need a dentist.
2. How Long Does It Take for a Cavity to Become Serious?
Getting rid of plaque can range from several months to a couple of years, the particular food you take in, the particular diet regime that you follow and the process that you perform for keeping the mouth healthy.
3. Can a Toothache Indicate Decay?
Not necessarily, but if it is killing all of the time then this means decay, cracking or infection, so it has to be checked out.
4. Will Decay Untreated Cause Other Health Problems?
Yes. Infection can also travel up to the neck and jaw line and very rarely through the blood stream (a potentially life threatening complication).
5. Can You Fill a Big Cavity?
Rarely. Many badly broken teeth will be restored and saved through the use of crowns and root canals etc – the earlier you come to us, the more likely you are to save your own teeth.
