Understanding How Decay Progresses

Ensuring proper preventive care means more than just brushing your teeth at home. In fact, it consists of a regular routine of brushing and flossing, attending dental checkups, and understanding how certain foods and beverages positively and negatively impact your smile. While it can be a troubling process, the spread of decay affects millions of people every year, which is why preventive care is so important. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX dentist will take a look at what makes decay spread, as well as ways in which our team can provide treatment throughout the process.

It Begins with Bacteria

Just like periodontal disease and a number of other dental concerns, decay begins with harmful bacteria that have found refuge within the mouth and begun weakening your otherwise healthy structures. It is true that they are present within every grin and attempting to rid them all is virtually impossible, you can take strides to up your preventive care routine to try and keep them at bay.

Oral bacteria thrive in the hard-to-clean areas of the mouth such as the gums, back molars, and in-between structures. Once they have nestled into an area for protection, they begin to feed off of the food particles and sugar you consume, resulting in the releasing of harmful acids that catalyze the process of breaking down your teeth. Once this has gone on for some time, a hole begins to form known as a cavity.

Cavities are one of the earliest stages of decay, and can often be treated with a dental filling. The process involves removing the infected portions of the structure, then filling the opening with the composite material. If you do not act with efficiency, however, this option may fail and you may need to seek another alternative.

Affecting a Tooth’s Inside

When decay spreads, it moves from the outside of a structure inwards. This means that the inner dental pulp and nerves are next to fall victim to decay. During this stage, you will begin to experience sharp pains and sensitivity, as well as difficulty with certain functions. Your dentist may also recommend treatment at his point with a root canal procedure in order to remove the infection from within, as well as attempt to save your natural tooth.

Facing the Loss of a Structure

If the infection continues to progress, there is not much restoration can do at this point, and your only viable option is likely extraction. Removing a compromised tooth can benefit your surrounding teeth, but can also cause some difficulties with oral function. Because of this, your dentist will likely recommend seeking an implant to fill the gap.

Learn More Today

For more information about the progression of decay or to schedule your appointment with our team, contact Gentle Smiles Family Dentistry in Dallas, TX by calling 972-329-7645 today.