The tooth decay that leads to cavities is the most common chronic dental issue to affect both children and adults. That’s partly due to the fact that it’s a product of bacteria that naturally inhabit the human mouth. Certain types of oral bacteria, found abundantly in dental plaque, can produce acids every time you eat carbs or sugars. These acids erode the enamel that protects your healthy, natural teeth, and excessive enamel erosion can leave your teeth vulnerable to infection from these bacteria. Once decay develops, it will progress and the cavity that it leaves behind will grow increasingly larger.
Tooth decay is progressive, and an increasingly larger cavity is only result of its progression. Your main tooth structure, or dentin, is finite; eventually, decay will progress past it and into the pulp chamber at its center. The pulp houses the nerves and blood vessels of the tooth, and is connected to the root canal that connects these tissues to your jawbone (and the vital nutrients it provides your tooth). If you ignore a cavity long enough, the decay behind it can become much more severe, and treating your tooth decay might require more treatment such as root canal therapy.
Once a cavity develops, you may be able to treat it conservatively and stop it from progressing with a tooth-colored filling. However, it’s better to prevent a cavity from forming in the first place, which requires diligent attention to your dental hygiene and preventive care routine, such as:
Prevention is the most important part of professional dental care, especially when it comes to the most common dental issue – cavities. For more information, schedule an appointment by calling Gentle Smiles in Dallas, TX, today at 972-329-7645 (972-329-SMILE).
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