What is Tooth Decay?
These are cavities seen with mostly dark discolorations starting from the outer hard tissue called enamel of the tooth and can progress to the underlying dentin tissue.
What Causes Tooth Decay?
Bacterial plaque composed of bacteria in the mouth can form acid from the mouth residue of food. These acids dissolve the mineral tissue of the teeth, causing the enamel of the tooth to deteriorate and consequently the start of tooth decay.
Causes of high risk of tooth decay;
Consuming too much carbohydrate and sugary foods in diet,
Very low fluoride content in the water used,
Having decreased saliva flow and amount due to the disease or the drugs used.
What Can Be Done to Prevent Tooth Decay?
Brushing teeth for at least two minutes twice a day is the best way to prevent cavities. In addition to brushing, regular use of dental floss and the use of an interface brush, if recommended by your dentists, are also helpful elements in providing oral hygiene.
The second important way is regular dentist control. In this way, measures can be taken before the teeth decay, and if decay has started, it can be treated with early diagnosis.
Another measure that can be taken is to reduce the consumption of sugary and acidic food and drinks or to try not to consume them in snacks.
How is Tooth Decay Treated?
Cavities are prepared by cleaning and removing the parts of the tooth that are damaged due to decay or other reasons, with special tools and devices used in dentistry. Tooth-colored fillings called composite fillings are placed in these cavities layer by layer, and each layer is hardened with a special light. When this process is finished, the fillings are shaped and corrected to imitate the structure of the tooth.
What Happens If Tooth Decay Is Not Treated?
- Untreated decays progress from the enamel to the dentine and then to the dental pulp containing the neural network of the tooth. In this case, hot-cold sensitivity and pain during chewing are seen. Then, simple filling will not be enough, root canal treatment will be required to treat it.
- When the tooth is not treated in time, fractures are seen as the tooth is weakened due to decay.
- When the infection occurs and reaches the jawbone from the root tip, facial swelling can be seen.
- If the decay is not treated, the situation can go up to tooth extraction.
