Cavities occur in the hard surface of the tooth. The area of a tooth that gets damaged is called a cavity. The areas where decay of the tooth sets in, are actually tiny holes or openings. These openings lead to serious infection, acute pain in the tooth and even tooth loss. A cavity may set in because of varieties of reasons. You could be snacking a lot. Perhaps you are ignorant about maintaining optimum oral hygiene. There could be excessive level of harmful bacteria in the mouth. You could be indulging in sugary foods and drinks way too much. The reasons are plenty to keep track of.
Cavities and tooth decay are two of the commonest health issues all over the world. The UK is no different. These issues are more common among three groups of people – children, teenagers and older adults. However any individual irrespective of age and has teeth is prone to develop cavities. Even children and toddlers are not spared from this problem.
Just like any other health issue a cavity must be treated. What happens when it is left ignored and untreated? An untreated cavity only gets larger and affects the deeper layers of your tooth. In other words the problem gets more and more acute with the passage of time. Finally one may even go toothless because of a cavity that was not treated on time and left unattended. What is the best way to avoid cavities in the tooth? Proper brushing and flossing techniques coupled with routine visits to your dentist are the best ways to stay safe from this dental problem assures a dentist based in London with years of experience in tooth decay treatment.
Symptoms of tooth decay
Symptoms related to tooth decay or cavities vary from case to case. The symptoms depend on certain factors like – the location of a decayed tooth in the mouth and the extent of the infection and others. Even the number of cavities present at a time is a point of consideration. Initially cavities do not show any symptom. As the infection progresses or the decay becomes larger, the symptoms start showing up. Typical symptoms include the following –
- Pain in the tooth and the surrounding regions in the mouth
- Sensitivity in the tooth
- Appearance of tiny holes or pits in the teeth that are visible
- Pain ranging from mild to sharp and shooting while eating or drinking anything hot, cold, sweet or sour
- Experiencing pain while biting down
In addition to the symptoms mentioned above, there can also be black, white or brown staining on the tooth surface as a symptom of tooth decay.
When you should go to a dentist
In most cases people remain unaware that a cavity is coming up in their tooth. This is the reason you must go for routine dental checkups at regular intervals. Proper cleaning of the mouth is also crucial even when your mouth feels absolutely fine. You must see your dentist and report the matter if you experience any pain in the mouth or in any of the teeth at any point of time.
What causes decay in the tooth?
Decaying of the tooth leads to formation of cavities. A cavity takes time to develop. Here is a brief description of how decay sets in your tooth. For easier understanding let us break down the process in a number of steps.
- Formation of plaque build-ups
Dental plaque is a sticky film that coats the teeth. This coating occurs because of indulging in sugary and starchy foods and drinks. It also forms when you do not clean your mouth properly. There are harmful bacteria present in these plaque build-ups. Plaques when left ignored and unattended become hard and form tartar. At this stage the plaques are more difficult to remove. This creates a protective shield for the harmful bacteria. You can consider this as the first step to what causes tooth decay Wimbledon. Only a dental professional can remove these harmful plaque build-ups from your mouth.
- Bacteria in plaques attack the outer toothy structure
These harmful bacteria synthesise an acid which erodes away the outermost covering of the tooth called enamel. As a result of this erosion tiny holes or openings come up on the enamel layer. This is the first stage of having cavities. When the problem is left untreated and ignored it gradually progresses to affect the inner layers of the tooth. This is how the next dentin layer too gets infected. This inner layer is softer than the outermost enamel coating. As a result the dentin layer gives way to the infection more easily without providing much resistance. At this stage your tooth becomes more sensitive.
- The disease progresses
Gradually the infection reaches the innermost chamber of the tooth called the pulp. Pulp houses the nerves and blood vessels of the tooth. As the pulp gets infected it becomes swollen and irritated under the impact of the harmful bacteria. As there is no more space for swelling to expand inside the pulp chamber, the nerves come under strain. This is when you experience the pain. In acute cases the damage and the pain are known to spread out of the tooth root to the surrounding bones. This causes loss of bone structure around the infected tooth. This is how the infection may even reach the neighbouring teeth explains a dentist in London, who charges reasonable cost for tooth decay treatment.
Complications involved in these cases
Tooth decay and cavities are very common. Unfortunately the majority of people ignore these issues. Some parents even think that if their children develop cavities in their baby teeth then that is something normal and accepted. Unfortunately, these dental issues are known to have acute complications that do not get away any time soon. Cavities and tooth decay should never be taken lightly even in children.
According to dentists working at the SW19 Confidental Dental Clinic, Wimbledon Dentist complications resulting from a cavity in the tooth may include-
- Severe pain (in serious cases the pain could be severe enough to disrupt your normal daily life)
- Abscess – a nasty bacterial infection that results in formation of a pocket of puss in the infected tooth (in extreme cases an abscess in the tooth could be life threatening)
- Problems with chewing and normal biting
- Damaged or broken teeth
