Is tooth decay the same as a cavity?
Is tooth decay the same as a cavity?
DEAR DOCTOR :
What is tooth decay? Is it the same as a cavity?
DEAR READER:
Tooth decay is not the same as a cavity — but tooth decay can lead to the formation of a cavity.
Tooth decay (also known as dental caries) originates with plaque, the sticky, bacteria-laden film that collects on your teeth between brushings. In recent years, we’ve learned that many types of bacteria produce filmy substances that act like a protective foam. Millions of bacteria live together inside the foam bubble they collectively have made. It’s their house, and helps them keep out threatening things.
Protected from destruction by the film, the bacteria in plaque produce acid that gradually destroys the surface of the teeth. When decay creates a hole in the enamel — the hard outside layer of your tooth — this is a cavity.
Here’s a quick look at how tooth decay progresses to cavity formation:
1. Cavity-causing bacteria accumulate on the teeth.
2. These bacteria produce acid that dissolves the enamel surface of the teeth in a process called demineralization. Ordinarily, the body has time to remineralize, or replenish the enamel. But when enough bacteria accumulate, acid dissolves enamel faster than the body can rebuild it. Tiny pits mar the surface of the tooth.
3. First-stage decay, the earliest stage of decay, appears as a white or brown area on a tooth. This “white spot” is visible only to your dentist.
4. Unchecked, the acid eventually penetrates the enamel and a cavity forms.
Tooth decay often progresses gradually, but when left untreated it can have devastating effects. Decay begins with the development of plaque, which contains bacteria. These bacteria can dissolve the enamel of the tooth, boring a hole known as a cavity (A). At this point the damage is limited to the enamel and dentin, but as decay progresses, the damage can extend to the pulp. The pulp becomes infected and swollen; this is known as pulpitis (B). The swelling may cut off the blood supply, which can cause the pulp to die. If the infection spreads to the root, it can create an inflamed pocket called an abscess (C). Not only are abscesses quite painful, but if the infection enters the bloodstream, the problem can become life-threatening.
If decay is caught early enough — while it’s still an area of demineralization, or a “white spot” — the tooth may be able to repair itself. Your dentist may be able to stop the decay to give your body a chance to remineralize and repair the tooth:
• Fluoride applied to the teeth in the form of a gel or varnish can boost remineralization.
• Applying a gel or varnish containing a powerful antiseptic can reduce the level of cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth, slowing demineralization.
• Your dentist may apply a liquid plastic sealant to create a physical barrier against bacteria. Sealants can help even after there is evidence of decay.
Once a cavity has formed, the emphasis shifts from prevention to restoration. The tooth cannot at this point repair itself; your dentist must correct the damage. Repair usually means cleaning out the area and filling the cavity.
We live in a world full of microbes. Sometimes they ignore us, and sometimes they prey on us. We have 13 trillion cells in our body, and we have 10 times 13 trillion bacteria living inside and on us all the time. Some of them actually help us — such as gut bacteria that make vitamins that we need. Sometimes they lie waiting for our defenses to falter and then attack. It’s like that with tooth decay and cavities: It’s best for us to keep a step or two ahead of them, through brushing and flossing and regular checkups. more
DEAR DOCTOR :
What is tooth decay? Is it the same as a cavity?
DEAR READER:
Tooth decay is not the same as a cavity — but tooth decay can lead to the formation of a cavity.
Tooth decay (also known as dental caries) originates with plaque, the sticky, bacteria-laden film that collects on your teeth between brushings. In recent years, we’ve learned that many types of bacteria produce filmy substances that act like a protective foam. Millions of bacteria live together inside the foam bubble they collectively have made. It’s their house, and helps them keep out threatening things.
Protected from destruction by the film, the bacteria in plaque produce acid that gradually destroys the surface of the teeth. When decay creates a hole in the enamel — the hard outside layer of your tooth — this is a cavity.
Here’s a quick look at how tooth decay progresses to cavity formation:
1. Cavity-causing bacteria accumulate on the teeth.
2. These bacteria produce acid that dissolves the enamel surface of the teeth in a process called demineralization. Ordinarily, the body has time to remineralize, or replenish the enamel. But when enough bacteria accumulate, acid dissolves enamel faster than the body can rebuild it. Tiny pits mar the surface of the tooth.
3. First-stage decay, the earliest stage of decay, appears as a white or brown area on a tooth. This “white spot” is visible only to your dentist.
4. Unchecked, the acid eventually penetrates the enamel and a cavity forms.
Tooth decay often progresses gradually, but when left untreated it can have devastating effects. Decay begins with the development of plaque, which contains bacteria. These bacteria can dissolve the enamel of the tooth, boring a hole known as a cavity (A). At this point the damage is limited to the enamel and dentin, but as decay progresses, the damage can extend to the pulp. The pulp becomes infected and swollen; this is known as pulpitis (B). The swelling may cut off the blood supply, which can cause the pulp to die. If the infection spreads to the root, it can create an inflamed pocket called an abscess (C). Not only are abscesses quite painful, but if the infection enters the bloodstream, the problem can become life-threatening.
If decay is caught early enough — while it’s still an area of demineralization, or a “white spot” — the tooth may be able to repair itself. Your dentist may be able to stop the decay to give your body a chance to remineralize and repair the tooth:
• Fluoride applied to the teeth in the form of a gel or varnish can boost remineralization.
• Applying a gel or varnish containing a powerful antiseptic can reduce the level of cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth, slowing demineralization.
• Your dentist may apply a liquid plastic sealant to create a physical barrier against bacteria. Sealants can help even after there is evidence of decay.
Once a cavity has formed, the emphasis shifts from prevention to restoration. The tooth cannot at this point repair itself; your dentist must correct the damage. Repair usually means cleaning out the area and filling the cavity.
We live in a world full of microbes. Sometimes they ignore us, and sometimes they prey on us. We have 13 trillion cells in our body, and we have 10 times 13 trillion bacteria living inside and on us all the time. Some of them actually help us — such as gut bacteria that make vitamins that we need. Sometimes they lie waiting for our defenses to falter and then attack. It’s like that with tooth decay and cavities: It’s best for us to keep a step or two ahead of them, through brushing and flossing and regular checkups. more
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The importance of our teeth is felt , very late, when we start loosing them one after the other. Phir kehte ha- Roti hai per daant nahi hai, Jub daant thai Roti nahi thee.......Yehi HE HAI ZINDGEE. more
Nov 10
Ailawadi. I have got this from Google: Parents don’t have to wait for teeth to sprout to start keeping their children’s mouths healthy, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting mouth care by wiping your infant’s gums with a wet washcloth or a gentle gum brush after each feeding. As your child’s teeth come in, you may begin brush their teeth with a fluoride-free toothpaste. Since young children can’t control their swallow reflex at this age it is safer to use a fluoride-free formula since fluoride consumed in large quantities can have toxic effects on the body. Of course, swallowing only the amount used for brushing (a pea-sized drop, for children between the ages of 2 and 6) isn’t likely to cause a severe reaction, but consuming just a little too much each day for an extended time comes with its own set of concerns. If children ingest too much fluoride over a long period while their permanent teeth are forming under the gums, they are at risk of developing dental fluorosis, a permanent discoloration of the tooth enamel. Dental fluorosis can range from mild, barely noticeable white spots on the permanent teeth to severe dark brown staining and even pitting of the teeth, in which small spots of enamel appear to have been chipped away. Fluorosis is a concern only for children younger than 8, because once the permanent teeth finish developing and break through the gums, they can no longer develop fluorosis. more
Nov 03
Is any tooth paste is available for children say upto 10yers I was informed the regular paste is not advisable for them. more
Nov 03
Brushing after every meal even mildly can preserve your teeth late into your old age. Here ayurvedic tooth pastes are more helpful. more
Nov 03
