Overview: Cavities
Cavities are simply holes or areas of dental decay that form on the tooth’s surface. They form when acids in the mouth erode the teeth’s hard outer surface (enamel)1. Here’s a detailed discussion of the causes of cavities.
What are The Main Causes of Cavities?
There are several factors that play a role in the formation of cavities. However, it all boils down to bacteria overgrowth in the mouth.
We all have microbes (like bacteria) in our mouths. Some microbes are good, as they can aid in digestion, while others are bad and can cause a variety of oral health problems. Good bacteria help to keep bad bacteria in check.
However, some factors may make bad bacteria increase in number and spread faster than good bacteria. These factors include overconsumption of sugary food and drinks, which bacteria love to feed on and convert into acids. Poor oral hygiene can also cause an imbalance.
When there is an overgrowth of bad bacteria in the mouth, the acid released by the bacteria begins to destroy the teeth’s surface (especially the hard-to-reach areas) causing cavities in the process2. When it mixes with food and saliva, it hardens and forms dental plaque.
While regular brushing and flossing will slow down the work of bad bacteria in the mouth (reduce the strength of acids in plaque capable of dissolving the tooth enamel), you need professional dental cleaning services to stop the formation of cavities.
There may be other factors like gum recession, dry mouth, and fluoride deficiency that increase the risk of cavities.
If you live in Toronto and suspect you have a higher risk of tooth decay, book an appointment at a leading family and cosmetic dental clinic.
What Do Cavities Look Like?
Cavities tend to appear differently based on the progress of the tooth decay process:
- Early-stage cavities resemble white chalky spots on the tooth surface. During this stage, the enamel has just started breaking down.
- Later-stage cavities look like black spots on the enamel. They can assume a grey, brown or black colour. Advanced tooth decay is also accompanied by visible holes/pits in the tooth.
Signs of Early Cavities
While one of the early signs of tooth decay is white chalky spots on the tooth surface, this could simply be teeth stains as opposed to cavities. What’s more, cavities tend to develop in far-to-see and reach areas of the mouth.
Also, possible symptoms of tooth decay advances like tooth sensitivity, tooth pain, and bad breath aren’t sure signs of a tooth cavity.
For these reasons, it is a challenge trying to detect cavities at the onset. You are better off booking a dental appointment and letting your dentist investigate and decide which stage or form of tooth decay you have.
Cavity Treatments
Cavity treatments vary depending on factors like the location and size/extent of the cavity. The main treatments include
- Dental restoration or a filling: It’s done when a cavity is small or medium.
- Root canal: Root canal treatment is necessary for deep tooth decay that has reached the pulp and caused a severe infection.
- Dental crown: If a cavity has weakened your tooth, a crown can restore the teeth offering some much-needed support. Crowns also improve the appearance since they are placed over a tooth. This makes them perfect for cavities characterized by discoloured or misshapen teeth.
- Tooth extraction: If the cavity has severely damaged the tooth, even a crown won’t help. In such a case, the tooth needs to be removed.
What are The Main Cavity Stages?
In regard to stages, cavities are either reversible or irreversible.
- Reversible Cavities
As mentioned, cavities are first visible as white spots on the tooth’s surface. If you notice this sign and take the necessary steps, it is possible to reverse cavities. Steps such as reducing intake of acidic foods, sugary/starchy foods and drinks as well as improving oral care can reverse the white spots, restoring normal appearance.
- Irreversible Cavities
If you don’t take action, the white spots will grow in size. Pain will also set in. If this happens, it’s too late to treat the cavity with a filling. A root canal is necessary at this point. Most importantly, the cavity is irreversible.
How to Prevent Dental Cavities
- Brush and floss daily: You should have good oral hygiene habits like brushing at least twice daily for at least two minutes and flossing once to keep food particles and plaque off your teeth3.
- Watch your diet: You should avoid sweets, sticky food and frequent snacking of sugary foods and drinks, as cavity-causing bacteria thrive on sugars. It also helps to drink a lot of water to ensure you rinse your mouth and remove food particles from your oral cavity.
- Go for regular dental check-ups: Most importantly, you must visit a dentist at least once every 6 months. Dentists can spot early signs of cavities in far-to-see areas. They’ll also recommend the perfect treatment for cavities based on the underlying cause.
The Little Green Building – Toronto Dental Clinic for Cavities and Other Dental Ailments
If you reside in Toronto near Bloor West or High Park, you can visit The Little Green Building – a Toronto Dental Clinic dedicated to offering families highly personalized and gentle care.
Don’t risk having untreated cavities. Book a dental caries appointment online or call:(416) 769-8135. You can also email: littlegreenbuilding@gmail.com or visit our dental office in person (Google Maps) for dental care tips, effective treatment for tooth decay, and other dental treatments like dental fillings.
Also ask our lead dentist (Dr. Michael Paltsev) about sealants, preventative measures, biggest cavity-causing foods, cavities in children/tooth decay in children, fluoride treatments, and more!
References
[1] Cleveland Clinic: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10946-cavities
[2] NIH: https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2019/05/mouth-microbes
