It is considered that smile is among the key signs which can make a person great looking. It is a sign of confidence, social closeness and affiliativeness. Nevertheless, it is with such a natural asset that one faces a myriad of dental health problems, whereby tooth decay alone is one of the most potent and hated enemies. Cavities or dental caries, is the end product of a process in which the hard structures of the tooth, i.E., the enamel and / or dentin are demineralised by the action of bacteria. If the condition is untreated in time, it can cause a significant deterioration of the esthetic and functional status of your teeth and jaw.
Learning about why tooth decay is a saboteur of your smile involves finding out about the causes, symptoms and practice on how to avoid tooth decay which is a common dental problem. As you will see in this article, it would be important to know how this disease starts to occur, how it poses a threat, and why it should be treated as soon as possible so that you would still have the chance to save your smile, as well as your life.
The Process of Tooth Decay: From Plaque to Cavities
Tooth decay begins with a seemingly innocent process: the accumulation of plaque. Tartar is a hard deposit of minerals that are on your teeth after sometime of eating and drinking and particularly if it is something like sweets or bread. These bacteria found in plaque then turn the sugars into acids. These acids gradually start dissolving the tooth surface of the enamel, which is that outer hard layer of the teeth.
One has to understand that these acids in this case represent a serious problem for the enamel as soon as it is exposed to them quite often: for instance, if one does not brush his or her teeth. This results in the creation of superficies pores or channels at enamel, either newly formative or slightly widened, at a preliminary stage of caries formation. If there is no response, the decay spreads to the inner structure of the tooth, which is the dentin, and is softer as compared to enamel. After the rot has spread to the inner part of the tooth that contains nerves and blood vessels, there would be a lot of pain, infection in the area and in some cases, the dentist is forced to carry out a root canal surgery or extraction of the tooth.
If you have bad breath, a stained appearance or are looking a bit older, it may be due to tooth decay.
The Impact of Tooth Decay on Your Smile
Although the manifestation of the disease mainly concerns the function and health of the tooth, it causes considerable damage to the aesthetics of your smile. The effect of the cavities is manifested in the presence of clear openings in the affected teeth, or stains, or chippers in the shape of the teeth which will disfigure one’s smile. Moreover, non-treated cavities can also cause extraction of the teeth, and this will create gaps within the dental formula thereby causing poor outlooks and ill-health, and low self-esteem.
Staining and Discoloration
In fact, one of the first indications of the problem that can develop into a cavity is a surface stain or discoloration. Some of the reaction occurs when the surface enamel actually begins to demineralize and the dentin which is below this layer begins to show through. When the decay is left to advance, the tooth may change color, becoming brown or black and ugly in appearance. These changes are more or less visible and they can impact the luminescence and aesthetics or your teeth in a big way.
Tooth Sensitivity
As the decay advances to the deeper part of the tooth, patient may experience heightened sensitivity to hot, cold or sweet substances. High sensitivity increases as overlying enamel and dentin are worn out, resulting in inflammation of the nerve ending which in turn leads to pain. Loss of teeth is thus always noticeable, it becomes difficult to eat hardest foods and hot and cold beverages, common phrases as speaking and laughing become painful and people with sensitive teeth cover their mouth or avoid speaking in publicDomain.
Tooth Loss
If tooth decay is left for long then the affected tooth is very likely to fall off on its own or may have to be removed by the dentist. When you lose one or more teeth, available options we have can make you lose more of those beautiful smiles besides that you will have spaces where you cannot even take your regular bites due to lack of teeth to chew or articulate your words properly from your lips. When a tooth needs to be extracted due to decay, the remaining teeth may shift which will create additional misalignment and bite problems.
Bad Breath (Halitosis)
As you already learned, most cases of tooth decay lead to development of breath difficulties, also referred to as halitosis. When the bacteria in the mouth chew food particles and dead tissues, they produce obnoxious gases that cause bad breath. Halitosis is embarrassing and can hinder interaction that leads to further impacts on self esteem and personal attractiveness of your
The Health Consequences of Tooth Decay
Apart from esthetic consequences, dental caries disease carries potentially grave health risks if ignored. Uncured cavities can spread infectiously to the sides of the teeth and the gum as well as other parts of the oral cavity and this may lead to conditions like gum diseases and abscesses. In some cases, the disease progresses to involve other systems in the human body this has wider effects on health.
- Infections and Abscesses
When the decay advances to the pulp, it may result to a dental abscess, which is an over-filled pocket of infection germs. The abscess can be a source of severe pain, either constant or worse during meals and can lead to swelling and redness of the skin at the site of the abscess; if the given infection spreads further, then it becomes worse and may lead to such consequences as hospitalization and removal of the affected tooth.
- Gum Disease
Tooth decay is a cousin of gum disease also known as periodontal disease. The bacteria that cause tooth decay may make the gums sore and swollen or may even cause the begin of gum disease called gingivitis. If left untreated, gum disease may lead to periodontitis, which comes with tooth and bone loss.
- Systemic Health Problems
In the past decade, several studies have been undertaken to establish the fact that periodontal diseases that go untreated may predispose patients to suffer from cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory infections and complications during pregnancy. This is due to the fact that the bacteria that causes germination or tooth decay and gum diseases can spread through the bloodstream and envelop other organs. Dental hygiene is therefore another but very important parameter of health.
Preventing Tooth Decay: Protecting Your Smile
It is widely known that teeth protection against diseases is way simpler than the treatment process. You can save your teeth from further decay and have a perfect smile if you try to follow the following simple steps.
- Brush and Floss Regularly
The process of eliminating tooth decay is most effective when you brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice daily. Fluoride helps to harder the enamel, so better it would not corrode easily. Flossing, in general, should be done at least once a day because it cleans between your teeth where the toothbrush cannot reach.
- Limit Sugary and Acidic Foods
That is why, to prevent tooth decay, it is advisable to avoid foods and drink that produce more acid in the mouth, and contain sugars of any kind. Sodas, candies and other sweet are foods are perceived to feed bacteria while acidic foods such as tomatoes, oranges, and wine may cause decay of the teeth. Better choices include vegetables, nuts, and dairy products.
- Use Mouthwash
An antimicrobial mouthwash will help to decrease the amount of bacteria in your mouth that lead to plaque formation which in turn leads to tooth decay. Search for a mouthwash that horizontally has fluoride to add extra layer of protection on the enamel.
- Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Dental check-ups and cleaning done by a dentist are important so as to avoid cavities on the teeth. The early stages of dental diseases are also very identifiable by a dentist and can be treated before reaching the next stage. They can also use topical fluorides or dental seals which serve as barriers from cavities..