Cavities are one of the most common infectious diseases worldwide.
They are small holes in the surface of the teeth that permanently injure them.
Its causes little or nothing have to do with genetic origins, but are a direct consequence of the combination of poor dental hygiene and bad eating habits, with intake of snacks and sugary foods.
They appear especially frequently in children, adolescents and elderly adults, however anyone, including babies, can suffer them.
While they are small, you may not notice that they are forming. Hence the importance of reviews at your dentist in Valencia and periodic dental cleanings, to ensure the good state of your bucodentel health.
They can cause symptoms as they grow like:
Toothache, sudden or without apparent cause.
Severe or acute pain when eating cold, hot or sweet foods.
Pain when biting or chewing.
Brown, white or black spots on any dental surface.
Visible holes in the teeth.
Abscess, inflammation or pus around the tooth.
If left untreated, they can grow and affect deeper layers of the tooth, with greater consequences, more severe pains that interfere with daily life, difficulty eating, becoming able to lose the damaged tooth, affecting the image, self-esteem and trust.
A caries begins to develop from the accumulation of dental plaque. It is a transparent film that adheres to the dental surface when dental hygiene is poor and fails to eliminate sugars and starches. Over time, this plaque hardens along and under the gum line and hardens and transforms into tartar, which protects bacteria and makes plaque removal more difficult.
This plate contains a series of acids that attack the surface of the tooth, causing a series of tiny holes in the enamel, getting access to the dentin, softer and more vulnerable to this acid and the attack of bacteria.
Through the dentinal tubes, they access the nerve, causing sensitivity. As they progress, the acid and bacteria manage to reach the pulp, irritating and inflaming it, oppressing the nerve and causing pain. This pain can spread outside the root, in the direction of the bone.
All people with teeth are at risk of caries, although the following factors may increase the chances:
- Dental position In most cases, caries are more common in molars and premolars, as they are characterized by their many grooves, and recesses where food portions can accumulate, making cleaning more difficult than in the front, more smooth and easier to access.
- Feeding. Sweet and sticky foods, which, when adhered to the surface of the tooth for a long time, are more difficult to eliminate and therefore, the major causes of tooth decay, such as sweets, carbonated drinks, chips or cereals or nuts.
- Frequency. These same foods or drinks, ingested with a greater frequency, favor the proliferation of bacteria, producing acid that wears and attacks the teeth. This effect is exacerbated and prolonged with the intake of acidic and carbonated drinks.
- Bottle caries. It is given when babies take their last shot before bedtime. Bottles with milk, juice or other sugary drinks remain in your teeth at night, which facilitates the bacteriological attack. And it happens equally when the little ones go from one place to another with those same drinks in their bottles or drinkers.
- Brushing techniques The importance of brushing after each meal with a good technique is vital to remove plaque and prevent tooth decay.
- Fluorine. It is a naturally produced mineral, which is added to numerous water supplies, toothpastes and dental mouthwashes, due to its benefits on teeth, as it helps prevent tooth decay and even manages to reverse the first damage in its initial stages. However, generally, it is not found in bottled water.
- Age. Although cavities are more common in children and adolescents, adults are also exposed to their attack. Over the years, the gums can retract, the teeth wear out and their roots deteriorate.
- Xerostomia Dry mouth is the absence of saliva that moisturizes tissues, eliminates food and plaque, counteracting the acid produced by bacteria and preventing cavities. Some medications, diseases, radiation and certain chemotherapy processes can increase the risk of tooth decay, as they decrease saliva production.
Old fillings or dental devices. The plate accumulates more easily