Cavities, also known as rotten teeth, is a dental infection caused by bacteria naturally present in the mouth that build up to form hard patches that are difficult to remove at home. In this plaque, bacteria gradually pierce the enamel of the teeth and cause pain and discomfort when they reach the deeper parts of the teeth.
One of the main bacteria that cause tooth decay is Streptococcus mutans, especially in children, which can be easily transmitted from person to person through close contact, such as a kiss in the mouth or when the cutlery is cut, for example. Therefore, when you have cavities, it is recommended to avoid kissing the child’s mouth, even if it is a child, or trying their food, to know if it is too hot, using the same cutlery.
- However.
- The main cause of tooth decay remains a lack of oral hygiene.
- Especially when it is associated with excessive consumption of sugar-containing foods.
- Such as cakes.
- Sweets or biscuits.
- As these are factors that facilitate the development of bacteria in the teeth.
The main symptom of tooth decay is toothache, but in some cases there may still be:
In the initial phase, cavities often have no symptoms, and so when the first symptoms appear, it is very important to go to the dentist immediately to confirm the diagnosis and start appropriate treatment, avoiding complications such as a more serious infection or loss. of a tooth.
The best way to confirm the diagnosis of cavities is to consult a dentist, as you can use special equipment that allows you to observe the inside of the mouth and all sides of the teeth, looking for small holes that can indicate the presence of cavities. . Sometimes, when observing the presence of a “small hole” in the tooth, the dentist places an instrument with a very thin tip, inside this small hole to assess its depth and whether the person feels pain.
Also, if the cavities are between two teeth, for example, your dentist may still do an x-ray to identify it.
The only way to treat tooth decay is to consult the dentist, there is no home treatment that can eliminate it. Sometimes a single session is enough to remove cavities, with dental restoration, but when many teeth are affected, treatment can be longer and more expensive, and it may be necessary to resort to a root canal treatment, also called sealing, or even when removing the tooth, which should then be replaced by a prosthesis.
In addition, the treatment of cavities involves cleaning, which involves removing plaque present in the mouth. See more details on cavity treatment.
The best strategy to prevent cavities is to brush your teeth at least twice a day to remove food scraps from your teeth and prevent plaque from forming, as well as floss regularly, as it helps remove food scraps. that can be between the teeth and cannot be removed with brushing.
Taking a sip of water after eating is also a good strategy, especially when you can’t brush your teeth. However, other important precautions include:
In addition, it is advisable to go to the dentist every 6 months to do a deeper cleaning of the teeth, completely removing the plaque. In some cases, the dentist may also apply a thin layer of fluoride to the teeth, especially children’s teeth, to strengthen teeth.
Some foods help clean teeth and balance the pH of the mouth, reducing the risk of cavities, such as fibrous foods such as carrots, cucumbers and celery, and protein-rich foods such as tuna, eggs and meats.
Discover other foods that help prevent cavities by watching the video below: