Dental Decay/Cavities – Prevention and Treatment
Are you suffering from dental decay (cavities)?
Are you fed up with your reoccurring dental health issues?
If yes, then you have reached the right place!
In this article, you will learn about tooth cavities and how you prevent the pain of tooth cavities.
What is Dental Decay (cavities)?
Dental decay also cavities, is an area on tooth the tooth that is damaged or effected by acids released by bacteria. It has three stages of progression; in the first two stages it is usually not noticeable since it is painless. If the cavity is not checked, detected and treated by your Dentist and/or Dental Hygienist. In beginning two stages of cavity, it is fairly easy to fix by restoration or filling. In third stage of cavity, it becomes painful and most people rush to have it checked. Usually at third stage, cavity requires more treatment than a simple restoration (filling), it most likely will need root canal treatment, possible crown and unfortunately in some cases extraction.
Dental decay is one of the most common dental problem globally. There is not age restriction to develop cavities, even babies can also develop cavities in their mouth and it can occur in adults as well. The best way to prevent dental problems and fix any existing dental issue in timely manner is to visit your best dentist and best dental hygienist in Edmonton.
Let’s have a look into some symptoms of tooth cavities.
Tooth pain
Bleed from the tooth
Halitosis (bad breath)
A hole in your teeth
Any black or white stain on your teeth
Teeth sensitivity
Pain while chewing
Food is getting stuck in between teeth
Why Regular Brushing is Important
Tooth decay is caused by plaque. Plaque is a sticky mass made up of mostly bacteria, food particles, and is constantly releasing acid. Plaque forming is natural but if it is not managed and cleaned regularly, it is damaging to our teeth, oral tissues and over all health. Bacterial biofilm and plaque grow when consume carbohydrates and it starts to release acids on our teeth. Which is the main reason out teeth start developing cavities. That is why regular brushing twice times per day and flossing once per day along with regular dental checkup by Dentist and Dental hygienist is important to avoid dental problems.
Let us discuss the risk factors of tooth cavities.
- High intake of carbohydrates in diet
- Intake of acidic foods and drinks
- Bad oral hygiene
- By not brushing and flossing daily
- Dry mouth
- Less intake of fluoride
- Lack of professional dental checkup by dentist and professional dental hygiene by dental hygienist
Treatment
We believe in prevention. We have a team of experienced and very well-trained Dentist and Dental Hygienist in Edmonton to serve you. If you feel any symptoms like bleeding and pain in your teeth, visit us as soon as possible. Our team can easily identify tooth cavities after oral monitoring. Most cavities in beginning stages cannot be identity by oral exams alone, this is why we take x-rays to make sure we are providing the best comprehensive dental care.
There are several procedures to treat tooth decay.
Let’s have a look some of the treatment options, we provide you at Clean Smiles Dental Hygiene Clinic to treat and prevent cavities.
Dental Sealants:
Cavities can be caused by deep pits and fissures on chewing surfaces of teeth. The base of these pits is hard to reach, as a result bacteria can grow at the base of the pits. This is the main reason a cavity can start.
To prevent the formation of cavities, we apply a coating of plastic (resin) material on the chewing surfaces to fill deep pits and fissures. This makes a good seal on those deep groves, hence prevents cavities.
This is a non-invasive treatment, which requires no anesthetic (needle) and no tooth structure need to be removed.
Fluoride treatment
If the cavity is detected at an early stage, a fluoride treatment is done to prevent further cavities. We do recommend some other customized non fluoridated products to prevent cavities as well.
Dental Restoration (fillings):
We use our highly efficient dental equipment to remove the cavitated area from the tooth. Then we fill with a biocompatible high-quality composite material and the anatomic shape of the tooth.
Root canal:
If the tooth cavity is affecting your nerves, we perform a root canal procedure to save your tooth. This process is slightly more invasive than a simple restoration. Root canal treatment includes removing the cavitated tooth structure and nerve tissue from the canal. We restore the canal and tooth with a filling material, to assure we can retain the tooth and it can function and perform its best.
Crowns:
We remove the cavity material first, restore, shape and reduce the tooth and then cover it with a custom-fit cap on your tooth, which looks and function like a natural tooth. Crowns provide the protection to the tooth from all surfaces and makes it stronger.
Ways to manage pain due to cavities:
The pain that is caused by later stages of untreated and undetected cavities can cause a lot of inconvenience. Our dentist will suggest you the best possible solution to overcome the pain and irritation and will do their best effort to treat and save the effected tooth.
Let’s find some ways that can help to manage pain/discomfort due to cavities
· Regular checkups – See your Dentist for an evaluation immediately.
· Regular brushing and flossing (yes even if the cavity is causing pain, gentle cleaning will keep the bacteria off of the tooth surface. Also, it will help with reduced inflammation and irritation)
· Avoid extremely cold, hot or sweet food while eating.
· Avoid home remedies that have no clinical data to show their efficacy.
· Warm salt water rinse can provide some temporary relief.
Prevention
Tooth decay is a common dental issue and a lot of people face this issue on daily basis. As we have heard. Prevention is better than cure. So, it is very important to reduce the risk of having tooth decay.
Here are some ways we can prevent dental decay.
ü Brush your teeth at least 2 times a day with toothpaste that contains fluoride.
ü Floss your teeth at least once a day.
ü Regular checkups are important to prevent any kind of pain.
ü Professional dental cleaning with at least 6-month intervals, or what is recommended by your dental hygienist
ü Avoid consuming foods and drinks that are high in carbohydrates and are acidic in nature-like soft drinks, candies, soda, and juices.
ü More intakes of fiber-rich fruits and vegetables
ü More intakes of calcium and vitamin c rich foods
ü Use chewing gum containing ingredients like: xylitol
ü Drink sugar-free green tea
ü Water consumption
ü Application of fluoride
Our amazing team or dental professional at Clean Smiles is here to resolve your current dental problems and we love to help our patients to maintain healthy teeth. We offer affordable dental services and a stress-free environment to make our patients feel comfortable. Our dental services include dental checkups and hygiene (teeth cleaning), whitening, sealants, crowns, bridges, root canal treatments and much more.
Our team of experienced Dentist and Dental Hygienists take their time to listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and advise you with the customized and best suited solutions for your dental health concerns. Our main mission is to provide you with high-standard treatments. Our patient’s satisfaction and dental health is our top priority.
We are an emergency dental clinic in Edmonton to serve you will the best possible solutions regarding your dental health care. If you are experiencing discomfort or pain and need emergency dental appointment, or if you are looking to take control of your oral health for yourself and/or for your family; give us a call today at 780 800 6655 and book an appointment with us!
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