WHAT IS CAVITY?
Cavities are holes in the teeth caused by the action of bacteria on the teeth enamel and dentin. Cavities caused by bacteria in the early stage appear like a white spot (can be easily treated at this stage), then later develops into a brownish or blackish spot. Cavities occur in the teeth of both in adults and young ones and can always vary in size relative to the action of bacteria on the teeth.
Cavities are mostly formed on the teeth surface which is used for chewing and cutting and also between two adjacent teeth. The symptoms of teeth cavity include toothache, teeth sensitivity and severe pain when chewing. Cavities are best treated in the early as they can often lead to loss of teeth when fully developed.
WHAT CAUSES CAVITIES?
Cavities are majorly caused by the action of bacteria on the teeth. Bacteria mix up with food debris in the mouth to form plaque which are detrimental to the health of the teeth. These food debris are acted upon by bacteria to produce enamel-corroding acids. This phenomenon is the more promoted by the consumption of starchy or sugary substances such as sweets and high sugar containing drinks.
If not quickly washed off, the secreted acid stays on the surface of the teeth and attacks the enamel. This causes the enamel to degrade over time and eventually resulting in cavities. Teeth cavities can quickly become serious teeth infections when left untreated. When the bacteria from the enamel surface gets to the softer part of the tooth, dentine, it easily spreads, causing the cavity to become even larger. At this stage, there is a high risk of infection as the pulp (the part of the teeth that houses the nerve endings) can easily be affected. This can lead to a number of serious cases that would require emergency treatment in any suitable dental clinic.
HOW TO PREVENT CAVITIES
- EAT HEALTHY
Consuming lots of starchy and sugary foods only brings you one step closer to having tons of cavity in your teeth. The more sugary substance you consumes, the more consumable debris you leave for the bacteria in your mouth to act upon. Cutting down on your level of sugar consumption is a good way to keep tooth cavity at bay. Eating fresh fruits, veggies and drinking lots of water are healthy alternatives for sweets, sodas and snack in helping you maintain the best dental health you can possibly wish for.
- SCHEDULE DENTAL APPOINTMENTS
Most people go about with teeth bearing cavities and they don’t know it. Just because you don’t feel the symptoms doesn’t mean they aren’t there. Scheduling an appointment in a dental clinic will help you prevent future disasters and will save you lots of money in tooth surgery. Whether you have cavities or not, the dentist will thoroughly check your teeth and gum to ensure they are in perfect condition and will prescribe the necessary treatment if in case you have cavities.
- GOOD TEETH CARE ROUTINE
Cavities can easily be prevented with simple hygienic practices including flossing regularly, brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and also rinsing your mouth with clean water from time to time. With good mouth care routines, the tendency of having teeth cavity can be as reduced as 55%.