As tooth decay starts to affect your tooth structure, it may produce a visible impact on your tooth’s appearance. However, this may not occur until the decay is already significant, and for many patients, the more telling sign is the development of a chronic toothache. Tooth decay starts when the enamel around your tooth is weakened and compromised by harmful oral bacteria. This makes your main tooth structure more sensitive, and leaves it vulnerable to more serious tooth infection. When you treat your cavity, you can finally find relief from the growing pain in your tooth and protect the rest of its natural structure from further harm.
When your tooth is in pain because decay is progressing through it, the discomfort can make it difficult for you to bite and chew on the tooth. Exposure to hot and/or cold foods and beverages, as well as to pressure and friction from biting and chewing, can make the tooth uncomfortable and painful. When you treat your cavity with a biocompatible tooth filling, the filling material not only fills the cavity but also protects the exposed part of your tooth to alleviate the pain and discomfort.
The tooth decay that causes a cavity to form in your tooth is a progressive concern, and time will allow it to continue to grow worse. Not only will the discomfort in your tooth become more severe, the more advanced decay can erode a significant amount of your natural tooth structure, making it more complex to remove the infection and fully restore the tooth. Treating a cavity as soon as possible mitigates this by stopping the infection from progressing, which improves the long-term state of your oral health by helping you preserve more of your healthy, natural tooth structure.
Treating a cavity is important to saving your tooth from tooth decay, and the right treatment can have several important benefits beyond stopping the decay. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling Gentle Smiles in Dallas, TX, today at 972-329-7645 (972-329-SMILE).
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