A cavity develops if you have tooth decay. Tooth decay in Newcastle is caused by bacteria in your mouth weakening the outer layer of the tooth, called tooth enamel and entering the inner part of the tooth, called dentin. Dentin is much softer than tooth enamel, so once these bacteria enter the tooth, they can quickly cause a hole or cavity.
Signs of a Cavity
The signs that you have a cavity can vary depending on the size of the cavity and its location. Initially, you may not have any symptoms, but you could notice that your tooth has become increasingly sensitive and even painful when you eat anything very hot or cold or sweet or sour. You could experience pain when you bite down on the tooth. If you look at the tooth, it may be possible to spot small holes or pits in the tooth that indicate the first signs of a lesion. Other signs include stains that appear white, brown or black.
If you suspect you have a cavity in Courtice or notice a tooth feels painful or more sensitive than normal, please, visit us at West Bowmanville Family Dental. When we can treat tooth decay promptly, we can save more of your natural tooth, protecting and preserving it against future decay. We can also discuss how best to prevent tooth decay in the future with good professional dental care and an excellent oral care routine at home.
What Causes Cavities?
A residue remains on your teeth when you eat any carbohydrate-rich foods like cereal, bread or chips, or foods like candy, cookies, and cake. The residue feeds harmful bacteria found in dental plaque in your mouth, and they produce an acid as a byproduct. The acid weakens and eventually dissolves your tooth enamel, causing lesions and eventually cavities in teeth.
Some people mistakenly think that cavities only affect kids’ teeth in Clarington, but anyone can develop tooth decay at any age. If you eat a lot of carbohydrate-rich or sugary foods, the risk of getting tooth decay increases. It can also increase because of gum disease, a problem that causes gum recession where your gums pull away from your teeth, exposing your tooth roots. Your tooth roots are not covered in protective enamel and instead are coated in a substance called cementum that is more easily eroded and brushed away. Consequently, these exposed tooth roots can become decayed.
Another problem is ageing restorations, as many people have older fillings that can begin to crumble and leak. Over time, plaque bacteria can get into the teeth via these crumbling and leaking fillings, causing decay underneath a filling.
Some risk factors that can increase your chances of developing a cavity include:
- Eating foods that are more likely to cling to teeth, such as chips, cereal, sticky candies, and dried fruit which is high in concentrated sugars.
- Failing to brush your teeth properly, as this allows food debris to remain on your teeth for longer, increasing the risk of cavities.
- A lack of fluoride can increase the risk of tooth decay because fluoride helps harden tooth enamel and can sometimes reverse the early signs of tooth decay, such as tiny pits and lesions in teeth.
- Dry mouth is a condition where you do not produce enough saliva, as saliva is a protective fluid that helps wash away food and plaque bacteria and helps the mouth maintain a more neutral pH. People can develop dry mouth as a side-effect of ageing, or sometimes because of taking certain prescription medications or having specific medical treatments.
- Acid reflux disease or GERD is where stomach acid washes back up into the mouth. Exposure to strong stomach acids can increase the risk of tooth enamel becoming eroded more quickly, causing cavities.
