This is caused by the dentin being exposed and affecting the inner nerve of the tooth. When the cavity is near the gum line, the infection of the tooth can have an impact on the surrounding soft tissue. This can result in bleeding or swollen gums , especially when brushing or flossing. Bleeding gums can also be a sign of gingivitis, so a trip to the dental office is warranted. When a cavity is smaller in size, there may be no symptoms at all.
Avoiding cavities in the first place is important, as it prevents the need for fillings and more invasive procedures. Some of the most common causes of tooth decay include:. To avoid dental cavities , do your best to practice good oral hygiene and let your dentist know if you are experiencing any symptoms. The sooner you catch a cavity, the better your chances are of only needing a dental filling rather than a more invasive procedure. Dental hygiene is crucial in keeping your teeth and mouth healthy.
Brushing twice a day and getting into the habit of flossing can have a positive impact on your teeth and improve the health of your mouth. Regularly rinsing with mouthwash can also help reduce bacteria and plaque. No Insurance? The cleaning is designed to help get rid of hardened plaque and tartar from the mouth while the exam helps to check for signs of cavities. By being proactive with your dental health and keeping up with bi-annual appointments, you can be sure to catch cavities as early as possible.
Anytime 7am - 11am 11am - 3pm 3pm - 7pm Want a Faster Booking Experience? Got it, thanks! What Are Dental Cavities? Common Signs and Symptoms of Cavities Cavities can often be detected with a routine dental exam. Sometimes they look brown, yellow or black. Keep in mind that not all cavities are big enough for people to see with the naked eye. Instead, dentists have to take x-rays to find small cavities. Now that you know what cavities look like, you need to know a bit about how they form.
The process starts when acid wears down the protective coating or enamel on teeth. The more frequently that teeth deal with acid, the quicker cavities form.
For example, foods or drinks that contain starches or sugars can cause cavities. Over time, the acid breaks down the enamel around the teeth and white spots start to appear. These white spots mean that the tooth has lost a significant about of protective minerals. Thankfully, people can stop and even reverse tooth decay at this point. The enamel can repair itself using minerals in saliva and fluoride.
However, cavities are permanent damage. Tooth decay comes from bacteria that uses sugar as food. The byproduct that the bacteria creates from eating this sugar is acid. On one side of the war are bad bacteria and sugar. When you eat sugary snacks, it helps the bacteria win the war. On the other side are saliva and fluoride. The saliva contains calcium and phosphate which helps strengthen enamel. Toothpaste, water, and fluoride rinse all contain fluoride, which replaces minerals that teeth lose during acid attacks.
Otherwise, decayed baby teeth will need to be restored. Wisdom teeth or third molars are often at high risk for developing tooth decay. Their location—way back in the mouth, makes it difficult for most people to reach and effectively clean around them. Wisdom teeth are also notoriously known for coming in at an angle pictured right which can be problematic for adjacent teeth.
Many times, wisdom teeth may only partially grow in due to the limited space and proximity to the jawbone. Decayed wisdom teeth do not look any different than other teeth with decay. The primary exception to restoring a decayed wisdom tooth is that they are difficult at best and sometimes not possible for even the most skilled dentist to be able to restore because of space constraints for hands, dental tools, etc. And for the patient, they may not be able to open wide due to human anatomy enough to facilitate the removal and restoration of the decayed tooth.
It is for these reasons, many people undergo oral surgery to have their wisdom teeth removed by extraction. If so, when? For most people, wisdom teeth become visible inside the mouth sometime between the ages of Beginning at age 18, the dentist will recommend for you to have a full-mouth set of x rays or a panorex film. Upon reviewing the images taken, your dentist will be able to show and discuss with you, if and when, you may need to consider having your wisdom teeth extracted.
Another name for tooth decay at the gumline is root surface caries. Tooth decay at the gum line is often caused from allowing plaque to remain along the edge where the tooth and gum meet.
When a cavity along the gum line forms, the cavity can be on both the enamel and the root surface of a tooth. The root surface of a tooth is less dense and is porous in comparison to the top portion of a tooth that has a layer of hard, protective, enamel. This anatomical difference means that any exposed root surfaces are at very high risk for developing tooth decay. If you suspect you might have a cavity forming, it is best to schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible.
Left untreated, decay on these surfaces can require extensive treatment to restore. Photo Source: dentalcare. If your dentist determines that you are at high risk for developing root caries, your dentist may prescribe a prescription strength fluoride that you brush on daily to help strengthen exposed root surfaces from developing tooth decay. Cavities between teeth pictured right may develop if a person does not effectively remove trapped plaque and food debris from the side surfaces of teeth.
Because these surfaces are often just out of reach from toothbrush bristles, another cleaning device is required. Most often, cavities that develop between teeth are often not visible with the naked eye. How many xrays are necessary to check for cavities? It largely depends upon how many teeth are present.
For adults, this may be per side and for kids, often per side. What does a cavity look like on an x ray? Because x rays are required to detect developing cavities between teeth, cavities on x rays will range in color from dark gray-black. Decayed areas will have an organic shape. Does the xray show how deep a cavity is? Yes and no. Cavity checking x rays are two-dimensional meaning they show the dentist the size but not necessarily the exact depth of the decay.
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