We’re taught the importance of maintaining oral health from a young age. But realistically, only about half of us actually floss every day and instead opt for mouthwash as a substitute. As you get older, you’re more prone to tooth decay. Receding gums, dry mouth, certain medications, and consuming foods with high sugar are all factors that affect the tooth and invite bacteria that weaken its enamel—initiating the beginning stages.
But to understand its process and how to prevent it, you need to understand what tooth decay actually is.
What is tooth decay?
Tooth decay is more commonly known as a cavity—the dark spot on your tooth that suddenly appears. It’s caused by bacteria that feed off sugar from chocolates, candy, and even refined carbohydrates like white bread. Without a healthy oral environment, the bacteria continue to take over the tooth, resulting in a dead tooth if left untreated.
If you catch it early on, you can prevent it from progressing or even repair it with the proper techniques. However, you must know how to catch it in the right phase.
The Process of Tooth Decay
As with anything that grows, tooth decay has a process.
1. Plaque Spots Appear on your Tooth
Plaque is the bacteria that causes tooth decay. They’re the ones that consume the sugary foods that enter your mouth and emit acid as a by-product. That acid breaks down the enamel on your tooth, causing small holes it can spread into.
If there aren’t any white spots on your tooth or heavily noticeable dark spots, or if you don’t feel any pain in that tooth, you may be in luck and can reverse any damage done so far by the plaque.
2. Your Enamel begins to Decay
As the plaque consumes the sugary foods you’re eating, it emits acid, further breaking down your tooth’s enamel. Little by little, the most vital part of your tooth begins to weaken. You’ll either notice a white spot indicating your enamel is weakening or see that dark spot become more noticeable. At this stage, it’s still reversible because the plaque hasn’t actually entered your tooth’s cavities.
3. The Plaque has Reached the Dentin.
The dentin is the layer underneath your enamel. It isn’t as strong but still protects the pulp chamber, where all the nerves and blood vessels are. If you haven’t addressed the plaque in stages one and two, you’re reaching a point of no return without the help of extensive dental work.
By now, the plaque successfully dug itself deeper into your tooth, creating cavities that continue to expand as it feeds off the sugar. At this point, your tooth decay becomes more noticeable. It physically starts to change colors, looking more yellow or brownish, and it hurts. You’ll notice some foods are too hot or too cold.
We hate to break it to you, but at this point, you’ll likely need the decay removed and a filling to fill the hole.
4. You’re Likely Feeling a lot of Tooth Pain in the Pulp Decay Stage.
If the cavity manages to open into the tooth’s pulp chamber, you’ll feel a lot of pain.
Inside the pulp chamber are your tooth’s nerves, connective tissues, and blood vessels. Once bacteria reach the chambers, they cause an infection. The tooth becomes sensitive, and you can no longer repair it without a root canal.
Like a filling, the dentist needs to remove the decayed parts of the tooth to repair it. Only this time, they need to remove parts of the infected soft tissues of the chamber. The goal is to ensure no bacteria lingers to insinuate further damage.
5. This is it. The Abscess Formation Stage
People often act on their cavities between stages one and four, when their tooth is either restorable or repairable. But once it reaches the Abscess Stage, the tooth is within its final decaying stages.
The bacteria infiltrated the pulp chambers and infected the soft tissue. The tooth inflamed, and an abscess formed at the base of the tooth—a pocket of puss due to the infection. Your jaw hurts, your gums are swollen, and you’re running a fever. It’s a mess.
At this stage, there’s no recovery. The damage is irreparable. And so, the tooth must be removed.
How Do You Prevent Tooth Decay?
Thankfully, you can prevent tooth decay. Of course, use the concepts you learned growing up. But because you’ve grown up, there are a few extra tips to consider:
1. Brush and floss regularly
You should brush your teeth at least twice daily using fluoride toothpaste and floss every night.
2. Watch the sugars
Watch the sugary foods. No, we’re not saying to cut them out completely. We’re just saying—since sugar is the bacteria’s favorite meal, it’s best not to consistently feed it. So, keep an eye on the sugary and starchy foods.
3. Ensure your dental kit contains fluoride
Fluoride is known for strengthening your tooth’s enamel which, in turn, makes it more resistant to acid attacks. When you opt for fluoride toothpaste, mouthwash, and floss, you’re allowing the enamel to maintain its strength, making it tougher for plaque to break through it.
4. Consider the acidity level in your mouth.
Sugary foods, acidic drinks like soda and coffee, and acid reflux all affect the acidic levels in your mouth. You’ll want to avoid acidic foods and drinks you’re consuming, particularly at night, so your mouth’s environment isn’t acidic for long periods.
5. Yes, visit your dentist!
We know this is the most obvious one, but you’ll be surprised how long it’s been since some people have been to the dentist.
Between dental cleanings and check-ups, your dentist can identify potential issues and give you the best course of action for a healthy mouth.
Now, go brush your teeth!
We know this was quite a read. However, understanding the processes around tooth decay empowers you to stay on top of your oral hygiene and how to detect when something’s wrong. When caught in the right stage, you can skip out on the cold rooms, sharp tools, and loud drills all too close to comfort near your mouth.
And remember, while these are all helpful tips, your dentist should have the ultimate say.
Excellence in Dental Care Services
Call Walled Lake Dentist and schedule a dental checkup today! Our dental services stand apart from other dental practices throughout the area due to our commitment to top notch patient care. We offer more than general dentistry, our services include cosmetic dentistry, dental treatments, children’s dentistry and more! We are looking forward to seeing your smile!