What are Cavities?: Cavities are other ways to explain about tooth decay, which influenced largely from lifestyle of people, what they eat daily and the way, they care for their teeth, presence of fluoride the consumed water and the toothpaste they use. Heredity may also sometimes cause decaying of teeth. Although, cavities usually take place among children; but adults also remain at the risk.
Types of Cavities: Individuals face from following types of cavities-
Coronal Cavity
This is a common tooth decay problem in both adults and children. These are present in between two teeth or on chewing surfaces.
Root Cavity
This type of problem takes place only in adults. With increase in age, gums recede to expose root portion present in a tooth. In addition, as enamel to cover roots remain absent, such exposed teeth areas decay easily.
Recurrent Decay Problem
This type of decay takes place across already existing dental fillings and dental crowns. Reason for this is that such areas tend to accumulate plaque to cause ultimate tooth decay.
Risks of Cavities
Adults remain at huge risk because of cavities if they deal with the problem of dry mouth i.e. a condition that takes place because of the lack of saliva. Moreover, medical experts have said that cavities or tooth decays are severe problems. If it remained in untreated condition, a cavity may cause damage to teeth and kill various delicate nerves present at the tooth’s center. Hence, a cavity further causes abscess i.e. infection at the tip of tooth root. Once any abscess forms, dentists may treat it only by complicated dental procedure, such as surgery, root canal or tooth extraction.
What Causes Cavities in Mouth
Most of the people do not know about causes of cavities. Even they show eagerness to know about ways for avoiding the common oral problem, as it leads to pain, discomfort and loss of tooth (in some cases). For this, experienced dentists have said that a cavity starts when bacteria inflict damages on teeth’s hard surface and destruction will reach within deep layers if individuals keep it unchecked or untreated. In order to avoid the attack of bacterium, one should make sure about regular care of teeth and follow a healthy diet plan, so that he could easily ward off the decay from pearly white teeth.
Stages of Cavity Formation
Plaque Formation
Plaque formation is the first step associated with dental decay. Dentists said that few strains from naturally occurring bacteria remain in your mouth whenever you intake sugary food items or drinks. When sugar fails to clean off the teeth, bacteria feed on it and produce harmful acids. These acids combine with saliva, food particles and bacteria to form a sticky film i.e. plaque covering your teeth.
Initial Stage of Cavity
Once sticky film i.e. plaque forms, acids further act to wearing off the enamel i.e. hard outer portion of the tooth. Enamel contains many tiny openings representing initial stage associated with dental cavities. Later on, bacteria and acid attack a soft substance present in teeth referred as dentin (next layer after enamel).
Advanced Stage of Cavity
Plaque formed and the bacteria consistently damage the tooth until and unless it’s inner material i.e. pulp affects adversely. In this advanced stage, irritation of pulp and bone supporting the tooth takes place. When the tooth decay approaches at this point, individuals would experience the problem of sensitivity, pain on biting any food and toothache. Now, in case invasion of bacteria causes body to send while blood cells for fighting with it, you would face tooth abscess and thereby, undergo with root canal treatment.
Cavities between teeth
Cavities in between your teeth form whenever breakdown of the outer yet calcified tooth enamel takes place from bacteria found usually in human mouth. Bacteria stick to your teeth embedded inside a hard substance called calculus or dental plaque that deposits on teeth. Plaque forms in between human teeth because of the inability of toothbrushes to clean various hardly reaching mouth areas properly. Hence, bacteria break down carbohydrates and sugar leading to acid attack to break down tooth enamel and create cavities.
Bacteria that Causes Cavities
Mutans streptococci and lactobacilli are common types of bacteria related to dental cavities. In addition, cariogenic bacteria also remain present in plaque formed in teeth but they remain in relatively low concentrations to create problems until and unless there presents shift in balance. This is because of local environment changes, like biofilm removal, frequent sugar.
How to heal cavities
Doctors recommend their patients to heal cavities by following some simple and easy steps, which include-
Removal of Sugar
Individuals want for healthy teeth free from cavity should avoid or reduce the consumption of sugar in their regular diets. This habit not only helps in prevention of the feed of oral bacteria and thereby, it allows flow of oral fluids in healthy way. In addition, sugary components are of acidic to allow decalcification and de-mineralization of teeth’s structural contents.
Consumption of Foods Rich in Nutrients
People should definitely consume fat-soluble minerals and vitamins to beat the problem of tooth decay forever. Diet consists of vegetables, particularly green and leafy vegetables and food items containing high amounts of fats, like avocado and coconut oil in combination with seeds and nuts would create an ideal diet to deal with tooth decay efficiently.
Oil Pulling Method
Oil pulling has always remained an excellent way to perform oral detoxification method. In this, you only have to swish coconut oil of only one tablespoon in the mouth for a period of about 20 minutes. After this, you have to spit this oil in trash. Even you may choose to apply this technique for about 5 minutes in case you consider 20 minutes, as long time. Oil pulling not only helps in healing of cavities, but it also helps in treatment of gingivitis and headaches.
Strictly Avoid Phytic Acid
Phytic acid acts as an enzyme inhibitor and a mineral blocker that usually found in nuts, grains, beans and seeds, which are not organic in nature. It causes severe health issues, like osteoporosis and mineral deficiencies. It prevents a person from absorption of minerals present in the food, while leaches minerals out from the body, teeth and bones.
How to Prevent Cavities in Mouth
Individuals and children may prevent cavities problem in mouth if they follow few simple and easy steps, as recommended by doctors-
Use of Fluoride
Fluoride implies a mineral that prevents progression of tooth decay. It may even stop or reverse early tooth decay. Main functions of fluoride include-
- Prevention of mineral loss present in enamel of tooth and replaces loss of minerals
- Reduction in bacteria’s ability of making acid
How to Get Fluoride
Although, patients may get fluoride by simply brushing with a special type of toothpaste that contains fluoride; but if any child or patient requires additional fluoride, dentists may go for-
- Application of a varnish and fluoride gel to the surface of a tooth
- Prescribe special tablets, which contain fluoride
- Recommend about application of a fluoride mouth rinse
Dental Sealants
Dental sealants are also effective ways to avoid cavity problems. Dental sealants are of thin and plastic coatings painted over the mouth’s chewing surfaces of molars or back portion of the permanent teeth.
How Sealants are Helpful
Chewing surfaces present in backward portion of human teeth are uneven and rough, as they have various small grooves and pits. Hence, bacteria and food items stuck inside grooves and pits as well as stay there for longtime. This is because; bristles of toothbrush fail to brush them in easy way. Here comes the role of dental sealants, which cover chewing surfaces and create a strong barrier that provide proper protection to teeth and prevent trap of food substances and bacteria there.
Matt Bailey is a noted writer, content marketer and Social Strategist at FindatopDoc.com. Find a best Local Doctor by Specialty and Insurance.
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