Stop Tooth Decay and Protect Your Smile with Expert Care.
Cavities might also be called tooth decay. They happen in the hard surfaces of your teeth where they are permanent damage resulting in holes or tiny openings. They’re some of the most common health issues around the world, and they can impact everyone from teens to older adults. In fact, anyone with teeth is at risk, including infants.
No matter how carefully you take care of your teeth, cavities are always going to be a risk you need to be mindful of. While you have no doubt been warned about them ever since childhood, do you really know what they are? For that matter, how do you deal with them?
Cavity symptoms vary based on their location and how evolved they are. In the early stages, you might not notice any symptoms whatsoever, but your dentist might catch one early if you get into the office twice a year. Potential symptoms include: Tooth sensitivity, visible pits or holes in your teeth, pain if you bite down, white, black, or brown staining, and toothache or spontaneous pain.
Cavities happen because of tooth decay, which happens over time in a three-stage process: plaque formation, plaque attack (acids remove minerals from enamel), and destruction (bacteria reach the pulp).
Cavities can have lasting implications if they are not treated properly. They can result in pain and tooth abscess. The affected tooth might start to swell or pus. You can suffer chewing problems, broken teeth, damaged teeth, and even tooth loss. Difficulty eating and chewing can lead to weight loss and nutritional problems. In the most severe cases, while rare, you can suffer from a life-threatening infection.
Treatment will depend on how advanced your cavity is:
Prevention of cavities is the best way to avoid ever having to deal with them:
Cavities are common but not always inevitable. Prevention efforts can spare you these health risks to your teeth so you maintain your confident smile and ability to eat healthy. Make sure you come in twice a year for checkups.
We can let you know if your efforts are working and advise you on what else to do. We can also catch cavities early and restore your teeth before things get too far out of control. We’re here to help!
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