Dental Caries Or Tooth Decay

Dental Caries Or Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is damage that occurs when germs (bacteria) in your mouth make acids that eat away the tooth structure. It can lead to a hole in the tooth, called a cavity. If not treated, tooth decay can cause pain, infection, and tooth loss.

Tooth has three layers.

  • The hard outer layer is called enamel.
  • The middle layer is called dentin.
  • The center of the tooth is called the pulp. It contains nerves and blood vessels.

The more layers that are affected by decay, the worse the damage.

What causes tooth decay?

Bacteria and food can cause tooth decay. A clear, sticky substance called plaque is always forming on your teeth and gums. Plaque contains bacteria that feed on the sugars in the food you eat.

As the bacteria feed, they make acids. The acids attack the teeth for 20 minutes or more after you eat. Over time, these acids destroy tooth enamel, causing tooth decay.
Things that make you more likely to have tooth decay include:

  • Not brushing and flossing your teeth regularly and not seeing a dentist for checkups and cleanings.
  • Eating foods that are high in sugar and other carbohydrates, which feed the bacteria in your mouth.
  • Not getting enough fluoride. Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making teeth more resistant to acids produced by plaque. Fluoride is added to many public water supplies.
  • Not having enough saliva. Saliva washes away food and harmful sugars, so it helps protect your teeth from decay.
  • Having diabetes.
  • Smoking, using spit (smokeless) tobacco, or breathing secondhand smoke.

What are the symptoms?

Tooth decay usually doesn't cause symptoms until you have a cavity or an infected tooth. When this happens, you may have:

  • A toothache, which is the most common symptom.
  • Swelling in your gums near a sore tooth. This can be a sign of severe tooth decay or an abscessed tooth.
  • Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth.
  • White, gray, brown, or black spots on your teeth.

If you have a toothache, see a dentist. Sometimes the pain will go away for a while, but the tooth decay will keep growing. If you don't get treatment, your cavities could get worse and your tooth could die.

How can I detect tooth decay?

Tooth decay can be seen as blackish discoloration of the tooth, which may present with occasional pain on drinking water or taking sweets in the initial stages of tooth decay. However, once the decay enters the pulp the pain is continuous and may be associated with a swelling. Hence it is always better to get your dental decay treated as soon as you notice it.

Prevention of decay

  • Brush your teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride-containing toothpaste. especially before going to bed.
  • Clean between your teeth daily with dental floss or interdental cleaners, such as Interdental Brushes.
  • Eat nutritious and balanced meals and limit snacks. Avoid carbohydrates such as candy, chips, which can remain on the tooth surface. If sticky foods are eaten, brush your teeth soon afterwards.
  • Check with your dentist about use of supplemental fluoride/ Fluoride Varnish application on teeth which strengthens your teeth.
  • Ask your dentist about dental sealants (a plastic protective coating) applied to the chewing surfaces of your back teeth (molars) to protect them from decay.
  • Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral examination.