We look forward to seeing you at your next visit! Contact Us. Gently brush your teeth at least twice every day for two minutes each time with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Floss between your teeth at least once a day. Consider investing in helpful dental gadgets, like an electric toothbrush and water flosser, to spice up your routine, making it more effective and even more fun.
Are root canal procedures painful? Root canals are feared for all the wrong reasons. Read our blog post where we help you understand why you need not fear the root canal. The Benefits of Forensic Dentistry. The varying conditions means cavities can start to form and then not have the right conditions to continue to progress. All types of factors can greatly influence the length of time it takes for a cavity to form. Common factors that can increase or decrease the speed in which a cavity forms include:.
It may seem like once the conditions are right for a cavity to start forming, that the process just progresses until a full cavity is created. In fact, conditions can be right for a cavity to form and then a process known as remineralization can occur, which changes things. Remineralization is a process that actually reverses or corrects damage to a tooth. Remineralization helps put these valuable minerals back into the tooth.
Once these valuable minerals are re-deposited back into or onto the tooth, the tooth will start to repair and strengthen itself.
Over time, the damage caused by the demineralization process is corrected and the conditions are no longer right for a cavity to form. Beneath the dentin lies the pulp of the tooth, which contains nerves and blood vessels. When a cavity reaches the pulp , the tooth begins to decay faster, leading to inflammation, swelling, and pain. In most cases, tooth decay that has reached the pulp of the tooth requires treatment with a root canal. Dental abscesses happen when the bacteria that causes cavities continues to spread beneath the pulp of the tooth.
These bacteria cause an infection and a pocket of pus beneath the tooth. Some abscesses go unnoticed until the pain and swelling become unbearable. Dental abscesses require immediate treatment and, in some cases, result in removal of the tooth. Some of the factors that influence how quickly tooth decay happens include:. Symptoms of a cavity may vary from person to person and generally depend on the severity of the tooth decay. Over time, this white spot may become a hole in the tooth.
A hole in the tooth is a sign that a cavity has formed. Below, you will find some tips for how to slow or reverse the progression of a cavity in the early stages. Unfortunately, once a cavity has formed a hole in the tooth, it is no longer possible to reverse the damage and treatment will be necessary.
A cavity reaches the nerve once the decay has reached the pulp of the tooth. However, the deeper the decay buries into the tooth, the quicker the cavity will progress.
At this stage, the damage to the tooth may be so severe that it cannot be saved with treatments such as a crown or root canal. In most cases, severe damage to the tooth occurs because of years of unaddressed tooth decay. Fortunately, proper dental hygiene and regular dental checkups can save a tooth before it ever gets this bad. When this happens, the treatment options for the cavity depend on the extent of the damage to the tooth.
As you can see, prevention through healthy oral hygiene is always the best method if you want to avoid extensive treatment options. While most cavities develop over a period of months or years, a lack of oral hygiene can speed up the progression of tooth decay dramatically.
0コメント