Cavities and Tooth Decay
What Is Tooth Decay?
Tooth decay is one of the most common health problems in the world, and simply put is the breakdown and destruction of the hard layer on the outside of your tooth, also known as the enamel. Plaque is always building up on your teeth, each time you consume sugary foods and drinks, and it sticks to your teeth. Plaque has bacteria that in turn begins to break down the tooth's enamel, and in time a cavity can form.
Cavities and tooth decay are more common among children as they are just learning how to properly clean their teeth and developing their dental hygiene habits, but they can effect children, teens, and adults alike. It is very important to try and stay away from frequent exposure to certain sugary and carbohydrate-rich foods such as ice cream, soda, and candy. If you do consume these things, you should try to brush afterwards so that the plaque doesn't build up on your teeth and it doesn't have a chance to break down your enamel. It is also very important for routine dental visits so that you can get a professional cleaning and your mouth can be examined for cavities.
Preventing Cavities
In order to prevent cavities, you need to have good dental hygiene. You need to brush your teeth, floss, and rinse with mouthwash every day. In between brushing you can chew on sugarless gum, which stimulates the saliva in your mouth. Did you know that saliva can help to rinse away debris and other materials in your mouth, which kind of makes it your own natural cavity fighter? At your routine cleaning we may also apply a sealant to your teeth, which also helps to prevent cavities.
Symptoms of a cavity include:
- Sensitivity or pain when consuming foods or drinks that are sweet, acidic, hot or cold.
- A toothache on the tooth, or near the gum line.
- When examining your tooth, you can see pitting, or a hole, on the top.
- Severe pain when biting down on something a certain way.
- Discoloration of teeth.
Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
Nursing bottle caries, more commonly known as baby bottle decay, affects babies between birth and the age of 5 1/2 and is caused when sugary liquids, such as milk or juice, cling to teeth. This happens when you allow your baby or child to sleep with a bottle in their mouth because the flow of saliva decreases when sleeping, which causes the bacteria in the mouth to thrive on the sugar from the liquid, which in turn slowly erodes the enamel of the teeth, causing decay. If you notice the decay, you should bring your child in to see us right away so that we can take the restorative measures needed to address the issue because if left untreated, your child's future permanent teeth run the risk of not properly forming.
Toothaches
There are several different reasons why someone may have a toothache, ranging from a piece of debris is stuck in between the teeth, to more complicated reasons such as tooth decay or fracture.
If the reason for the toothache is a piece of debris, simply rinse your mouth with either water or a mouth rinse to dislodge the debris. You should avoid placing aspirin on the area for pain relief because the dissolving aspirin has been shown to damage and cause harm your gum's tissue.
Broken, Fractured, or Displaced Tooth
A common reason for a toothache is a broken, fractured, or displaced tooth, but typically it is not an immediate reason to be alarmed, as long as you stay calm and act quick.
If someone has knocked out your tooth, the first thing you should do, after finding your tooth, is rinse out your mouth in order to remove any blood or foreign object fragments. Then, to reduce the swelling, you should put a cold compress on your cheek close to the effected area. Next, you should try to put it back in the empty socket, taking care to only hold the tooth by the crown, and not the root, so you don't damage it. If you are unable to put the tooth back in the empty socket, you should then take and put it in the victim's saliva, warm milk, or saline and keep it there until you are able to get in to see us.
If someone has caused your tooth to become fractured, you should rinse out your mouth, taking care not to swallow any tooth fragments, and put a cold compress on your cheek close to the effected area. To reduce swelling, you can also take ibuprofen, following the medicine's instructions. Once you are able to get in to see us, if the fracture is not major and the pulp is not severely injured, we will probably be able to fully restore it by sanding and bonding.
In cases where a child's primary tooth was loosened, whether the reason is that they were injured or because a permanent tooth is coming through and pushed it loose, you can try getting an apple or piece of caramel and having them gently bite down which should cause the tooth to come out of the child's gums.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a lifelong illness that results in an excessive amount of sugar in a person's blood. For those who have this disease, they are more susceptible to a variety of different medical issues, including issues with the mouth and teeth. Diabetics are more prone to dry mouth, which means that since their mouths aren't producing as much saliva, bacteria and food particles don't get washed away and they just sit on the teeth, multiplying, eventually leading to gum disease and tooth decay. When blood sugar levels are not in balance, the same problems arise. It is very important for diabetics to practice healthy dental hygiene habits and keep up on their routine dental cleanings, so as to not let a problem progress to something very serious.
Dry Mouth
Dry mouth, also called Xerostomia, is a common condition where the mouth is very dry, the tongue is sensitive, and you are having a hard time speaking properly. Dry mouth can lead to several different dental health issues. When a person has dry mouth, their mouths are not producing as much saliva as it should. Saliva helps your mouth to stay clean and rinse away odor and cavity causing particles. So when the mouth is unnaturally dry, bacteria and food particles never get washed away and they just sit on your teeth, multiplying, which the end result is a mouth that is not only dry, smells bad, and if not properly treated could lead to serious health issues such as burning tongue syndrome.
There are certain medical conditions where dry mouth is a common side effect, for example people who have eating disorders, rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes and people undergoing cancer treatments, taking certain medications, or who have a compromised immune system. Other common reasons could include tobacco use and eating certain foods. If your dry mouth is not caused by a medical condition, there are a few things that you can try such as chewing sugarless gum, sipping water, and you should avoid using tobacco products.
Fluorosis
Fluorosis is a cosmetic condition that is caused by overexposure to fluoride during the first eight years of a child's life, when their permanent teeth are developing. After the permanent teeth come in, if the child has fluorosis, the teeth will be discolored. In mild cases, they may just have faint white patches, but in severe cases may have yellow or dark brown stains, in addition to inconsistencies on the surface of the tooth and visible pits.
Fluoride, when taken in normal doses, is beneficial. When it is consumed in foods, supplements, and water, it gets into the bloodstream and is then absorbed by the body. It can also be applied directly to the teeth when fluoride toothpaste or mouthwash is used. When you come in for a cleaning, many times we will recommend an in-office fluoride treatment.
Gum Disease (Gingivitis)
Gingivitis is a form of periodontal (gum) disease which is caused by a film of plaque, which has bacteria, sticking to the teeth usually left behind after eating. Some signs to look for if you think you may have gingivitis are: redness, inflammation, and pain of the gums, bad breath, and bleeding after brushing your teeth. Also, there are some cases when a woman is pregnant, the fluctuation of hormone levels can cause a form of gingivitis. If you suspect gingivitis, you should make an appointment to come see us right away. It is a very common dental ailment that is non-destructive if caught and treated in time, but if ignored it can lead to periodontitis, which is significantly more serious and can cause infection, decay and even tooth or bone loss.
There are three main treatment options for periodontitis cases. 1) Root planning is the first method and it consists of scraping and smoothing the roots of a tooth below the gum line in order to clean the tooth and remove any bacteria or tartar buildup. Once the tooth is clean, the gums can easily reattach themselves. 2) Scaling is the second method and it consists of removing bacteria and tartar buildup from the surface of the tooth. 3) The use of antibiotics is the third method and either topical or oral antibiotics can be used. If your gums are inflamed and infected due to periodontitis, this method will help treat the infection.
Lacerations and Cuts
When you get a laceration or cut on your face, it is important to get it looked at right away so that it doesn't turn into something more serious such as an infection or major tissue damage. If the the cut is part of a larger injury, one which includes broken facial bones (ie: nose, jaw, cheek), you may need oral & maxillofacial surgery. These specialized surgeons go through rigorous training to correct issues regarding a patient's facial features, neck, mouth and jaw. Take jaw surgery for example, after a jaw fracture the surgeon will go in in order to keep everything in place will use a combination of wires, braces, screws and plates, as well as dental splints. That way proper alignment of the jaw is maintained and the bone is allowed to fully heal.
Oral Cancer
With tens of thousands of cases diagnosed annually, oral cancer can develop in any part of the mouth and is a very common and vigorous type of cancer that can be life threatening if left un-diagnosed or treated. According to recent studies people of all ages and genders are at risk for developing oral cancer, but men are twice as likely as women to be diagnosed, with men over the age of 40 being the most at-risk group. When going through the cancer treatment process, patients can develop painful and even chronic complications such as dry mouth, accelerated tooth decay and sensitive teeth.
Warning Signs
The most common early warning sign of oral cancer is the appearance of lumps, bumps, or sores in the mouth, but there are several different warning signs that are usually painless if still in the early stages, which is why people should be extra vigilant, because self-diagnosis can be difficult.
Patient's should also look out for:
- Hoarseness or change in voice.
- Trouble speaking, chewing, moving your tongue or swallowing.
- Mouth or lips that have pain or numbness.
- Lumpy growths in the throat or neck.