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#Cavities: A Common Dental Problem
Cavities, also known as dental caries, are one of the most prevalent chronic diseases worldwide. A **cavity** forms when bacteria in the mouth break down foods and produce acids that demineralize and weaken the tooth structure. This leads to holes or pits forming in the teeth. **Cavities** can occur on the chewing surfaces, between teeth, and along the root surfaces. If left untreated, cavities can lead to severe tooth pain, infection, and even tooth loss.
##What Causes Cavities to Form?
**Cavities** form when plaque, a sticky film containing bacteria, builds up on teeth. The bacteria in plaque feed on sugars and starches from the food we eat. As the bacteria metabolize these carbohydrates, they produce acid as a byproduct. This acid can dissolve and demineralize the hard tissues of the teeth, leading to cavities.
The main factors that contribute to cavities include:
- Poor oral hygiene: Not sufficiently brushing and flossing allows plaque to accumulate on teeth. Plaque buildup is a leading cause of dental caries.
- Frequent snacking or sipping sugary foods/drinks: Sugars and refined carbohydrates feed the plaque bacteria and enable them to produce more acid. This includes sodas, candy, cookies, etc.
- Dry mouth: Lack of saliva helps neutralize acid and wash away food particles. Certain medications and health conditions can cause dry mouth.
- Fluoride deficiency: Fluoride helps strengthen and remineralizers tooth enamel. A lack of fluoride makes teeth more prone to acid attacks.
##Who is at Risk for Cavities?
While **cavities** can develop at any age, some individuals are at higher risk, including:
- Children and teens: Newly erupted adult teeth in kids are vulnerable as the enamel is not fully mature. Kids also tend to eat more sugary snacks and drinks.
- Elderly: Reduced saliva flow, medications, and inability to properly brush and floss raise cavity risk in seniors.
- Dry mouth sufferers: Radiation treatment, Sjogren’s syndrome, and certain medications can diminish saliva flow.
- Those with poor oral care habits: Not brushing and flossing properly or routinely leads to increased plaque buildup.
- Individuals with dietary habits high in refined carbs and sugars: Frequent snacking on cookies, candy, soda, and the like fuels cavity development.
##Signs and Symptoms of Cavities
Early **cavities** may show no obvious symptoms, or one may experience subtle symptoms like:
- Tooth sensitivity or mild irritation to sugars, hot/cold foods
- Mild toothache or pressure only when chewing
As the decay progresses deeper into tooth layers, more noticeable signs and symptoms arise:
- Toothache ranging from mild to severe, especially to sugars and hot/cold stimuli
- Pain when biting or chewing
- Visible pits or holes in the teeth
- Brown, black or white spots appearing on tooth surfaces
- Tooth fracture, damage or loss of a filling
Severe tooth decay can lead to infection and abscess, causing swollen gums, sinus issues, and severe throbbing pain. If the infection spreads, it can become life threatening.
##Diagnosing Cavities
Only a dentist can properly diagnose and detect cavities, especially in the early stages. Your dentist will:
- Ask about dental health history and symptoms
- Perform a visual exam of all tooth surfaces
- Use small dental mirror to check for holes or pits in tooth enamel
- Check for soft spots in the teeth with a dental instrument
- Take x-rays which show areas of decay between or below the teeth
Newer technologies like laser fluorescence can also help identify areas of demineralization before cavities become visible.
##Treating Cavities - Noninvasive Options
If detected early, some noninvasive treatment options may help stop or reverse the decay process before a regular filling becomes necessary. These include:
- Fluoride treatments: Professionally applied high-dose fluoride can help remineralize tooth surfaces.
- Dental sealants: Thin plastic coatings adhered to chewing surfaces to prevent plaque buildup in pit and grooves. Effective especially for children.
- Antimicrobial mouth rinses: Prescription antimicrobial rinses reduce bacteria levels linked with cavities.
- Remineralizing toothpastes/gels: Contains compounds like calcium, phosphate salts and fluoride to strengthen weakened enamel.
##Treating Cavities - Invasive Options
If the decay has already broken through the enamel and into deeper layers of the tooth, more invasive dental work is needed, including:
- Fillings: Removal of decayed material and replacing with silver amalgam or tooth-colored composite resins.
- Crowns: Required for more extensive decay to cover and restore remaining tooth structure.
- Root canals: If the cavity has reached the tooth pulp, root canal therapy is needed to save the tooth.
- Extractions: Severely damaged teeth may need to be pulled if other restorative options are not possible.
Good oral hygiene and limiting sugary/acidic foods can prevent more cavities from forming after treatment. Regular dental checkups and cleanings are key for catching cavities early. Untreated cavities could lead to serious dental infections requiring antibiotics or tooth extraction. Protect teeth from needless decay by taking steps to prevent **cavities**.
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