All About Cavities
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Cavities
can best be described as tooth decay. As
we all know, tooth decay is influenced by what we eat, how we take care of our
teeth, and the amount of fluoride in our toothpastes. If your family has a history of tooth disease
or teeth problems, then you may inherit it that way. This is very common, as many people inherit
tooth problems that have been passed down from generation to generation.
Adults
who suffer from a dry mouth are more at risk for cavities, as they have a lack
of saliva in their mouth. Dry mouth is
very common, and is normally the result of medications, illness, and radiation
treatment. Tobacco users will also
suffer from dry mouth, as the tobacco will use up the saliva in the mouth and
leave the user with nothing to keep his or her mouth moist.
Cavities
are a very serious situation, and if left untreated, can result in the
destruction of the tooth. This can also
destroy the nerves as well, resulting in an abscess. An abscess is very serious, as it infects the
root tip. If left untreated, an abscess
can result in death. Although you may
not realize it, cavities are a very serious matter that can quickly spread to
something even more serious.
If
you visit your dentist on a regular basis, he will check for cavities. Without visiting the dentist, it is
impossible to tell whether or not you have a cavity. Most cavities develop below the gums, and you
won’t be able to see them. If the cavity
exists in the tooth, you will be able to see it, as it will change the color of
the affected area. If you notice a color
change or a blackened area in your tooth, you should make an appointment with
your dentist immediately.
What
you eat is a big contributor to cavities.
If you eat a lot of sweets or drink a lot of soda, you will be at a
higher risk for cavities. Foods that are
rich in sugar or starch are eaten by bacteria found in plaque, which will
produce acids that eat through teeth.
This acid is very harmful to teeth, as it can eat through the dentin and
enamel in no time at all. If you don’t
do something about it, the acid will continue to eat at the tooth until there
is nothing left to say - leaving you no choice but to get the tooth extracted.
Over
time, the tooth enamel will start to break down beneath the surface of your
tooth, even though the surface will appear to be fine. Once the acid has managed to eat away enough
of the enamel below the surface, the surface will collapse, which results in a
cavity. After this has happened, if you
don’t get it treated, the tooth will continue to be eaten and the cavity will
continue to spread until all of the tooth has been eaten, after which the
enamel will be gone and your root will be exposed - which can be very painful.
Cavities
will more than likely develop in the pits of chewing areas around the back
teeth, between your teeth, or near the gum line. No matter where they occur, the easiest way
to spot them is to visit your dentist.
Your dentist will be able to do x-rays and find out just how bad they are
and tell you what options you have. If
you visit him in time, he will be able to save the tooth and stop the cavity
before it spreads throughout your tooth.
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