WHAT IS A CAVITY?
Cavities are the holes on the tooth surface caused by bacterial acid that produce tooth decay. Bacteria affect the superficial or upper part of the teeth known as enamel. The enamel (tooth upper) part is made of minerals and calcium, bacterial acid removes these minerals and creates a hole. In starting tiny holes are catchy and cause food and plaque accumulation and produce more bacteria, with the passage of time these holes increase in size and damaging the deep part of the teeth and producing a large cavity. Cavities can be formed on different surfaces of the tooth such as at the gum line, near the root, biting surface of the tooth, and between teeth.
WHAT DOES A CAVITY LOOK LIKE?
The tooth cavity looks like a defect in the smooth tooth surface.
•Initial cavity stage. In starting a slight change in color and surface of the tooth structure, the groves or the line on the tooth become dark in color.
•Small cavity. Tooth color becomes darker in color with the tooth surfaces becoming irregular which causes food sticking and plaque accumulation, bacteria from the plaque erode the tooth surface and make a cavity. The groves on the chewing surface of the deeper and create small holes.
•Large cavity. As the size of the cavity increases it changes color, the cavity looks blackish and dark brown in color due to the loss of the upper layer of tooth enamel.
HOW TO GET RID OF A CAVITY?
•Brushing twice a day with the correct technique uses of dental floss after every meal, and use of mouthwashes can prevent tooth cavities.
•Dental flossing and daily use of mouthwashes help in controlling the cavity between the teeth surface.
•The dentist also recommends the use of fluoride toothpaste, fluoride control bacterial acid, decreases tooth calcium loss, and helps in reversing the initial tooth defects such as color changes.
•A regular dental check-up can identify the cavity before it happens or diagnose it at the initial stage. The dentist applies dental sealant on the tooth-chewing surface that controls tooth decay. Dental sealants are thin plastic tooth color materials that apply on the biting surface and prevent cavity formation.
•A dental filling is used to fill the cavity. Large size cavity difficult to restore by a dental filling, RCT is required to save the tooth because it is near to the pulp.
•Regular dental check-ups after every 6 months, proper oral hygiene maintenance, and controlled sugar intake can help in getting rid of cavities.
WHAT DOES A CAVITY FEEL LIKE?
Cavity produces irregularity on the tooth surface that causes food accumulation between the teeth or at the tooth chewing surface. Food accumulation causes a foul smell and feels bad breath. Feeling sensitivity to hot, cold, and spicy food due to exposure of deep nerves and blood supply. Felling Pain as the size of the cavity increase affects the deep nervous and blood supply of the tooth that produce pain. Sometimes bleeding gum and feeling difficulty in chewing if the cavity penetrates deep into the tooth.
HOW TO TELL IF YOU HAVE A CAVITY?
You can explain the sign that you feel such as sticking food between the teeth, difficulty in chewing, pain, sensitivity, and bleeding gum.
Dental cavities between the tooth are difficult to diagnose as compared to the biting tooth surface cavity, dentist clinical examination and radiograph are required to identify this cavity. Cavities near the gum line of the teeth penetrate faster into the deep tissue so they should be treated as early as possible to save the deep tooth structure.
Small size cavity is also difficult to identify, visit your dentist regularly so the cavity can be diagnosed early, and by taking preventive measures such as dental sealants and dental filling, control tooth decay; back it to normal and save tooth, money, and time.