Understanding Tooth Cavities
Cavities are very common in daily life, perhaps as common as the common cold. However, if they are so widespread they ought to be easily distinguished as a problematic situation where treatment is promptly sought before they become a more serious concern. Different people have differing experiences with tooth cavities. What exactly does it feel like to have one? Where do they come from and how do they form?
Some oral bacteria are harmful bacteria, feeding on sugar from the foods we eat. This action turns the debris into acid, eating away the tooth enamel, weakening it causing it to become porous and brittle allowing entry of more debris. In the end, a dental cavity begins to form. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, a cavity can be reversed in its early stages. Better oral hygiene, such as brushing with toothpaste containing fluoride can restore the enamel in time.
What do you feel if you have a cavity?
Actually, nothing, in the early stages. You might notice a tiny hole on a tooth surface and feel no pain as the enamel layer doesn’t have nerves. However, when the decay begins to burrow deeper into the tooth, going into the softer layers – the dentin and the pulp where nerves are present – sensitivity may be felt and likely pain, especially after eating sweets, and hot or cold foods.
Pain can range across a spectrum from mild, sharp, to intense. Some people with a cavity may feel pain when they bite down. Cavities sometimes create visible holes in the teeth. They might also stain black, brown or white on the surface of the tooth.
Sweets like candy, chocolates, cakes, among others are likely to cause pain inside a cavity as there is already erosion of the enamel. Even if you don’t have a cavity, if you have sensitive teeth, you are likely to feel more sensation when you eat sugary foods. Sweet foods tend to be sticky and likely to cling to teeth. Bacteria are highly attracted to sugar and feed on them to produce more acid, which can make its way into the cavity, irritating the nerves.
If you’re experiencing these symptoms the next step is to visit your dentist. When there is already discomfort, swelling and pain, only a dentist can treat. Your dentist will confirm the presence of cavities by careful examination and maybe x-rays. Your treatment plan will depend on the severity of the cavity, among others. It becomes very important to have regular dentist visits to catch any issues early.
SourceSpotting Cavities Early at Lynnwood Song Dental
Learn more about cavities, how they form and your treatment options. When you think you might have a tooth cavity, do not delay and see us in Lynnwood.
