What is a Dental Cavity
Dental Cavities also known as Teeth holes are those tiny or big holes found on your teeth, these are found on the hard surfaces of your teeth. The damages are permanent they can’t reverse on their own. The process of the formation of the dental cavity happens when the hardest part of your teeth which is the enamel and the softer part which is the dentine is softened by an acid attack after you have eaten or drunk anything that contains sugars. This process happens over time. Tooth Decay is also known as a dental cavity.
Causes of a dental cavity
The dental cavity is caused by the accumulation of dental plaque on your teeth, and this dental plaque has bacteria in them, these bacteria produce acids that slowly dissolve away your teeth’ enamel and dentine.
Risk factors of Dental cavity
A dental cavity doesn’t happen like magic and it’s not hereditary, but it’s some of your actions and habits that cause tooth decay. Below are the risk factors of a dental cavity;
Sugary foods and Snacks
Consuming Sugary foods, drinks, and snacks provides the natural bacteria in the mouth a favorable environment for acting on your teeth.
Poor oral hygiene.
When you don’t take proper care of your teeth, this will increase the accumulation of dental plaque.
Position of your teeth.
Your teeth that are more difficult to clean because of their position are more susceptible to decay. your molars and premolars; which are mostly used for chewing are more prone to dental cavities because of their location, also teeth that are misaligned are at higher risk.
Not using enough fluoride
Fluoride is a mineral that has the ability to fight off the dental cavity, therefore, when you don’t have enough fluoride in your dental daily use, your teeth will be susceptible to dental cavities.
Health Condition
There are certain health conditions that pose risks to the dental cavity; examples are having a dry mouth, and people with dry mouths have a slow production of bacteria in the mouth. Gastric disorders often introduce acids into the mouth. These acids damage the enamel, weakening it and making it easy for a dental cavity to take place.
Signs and Symptoms of a dental cavity
When a dental cavity is forming it doesn’t give you any sign, because it starts from your teeth enamel, and the teeth enamel has no sensitive nerve supply to it. That’s why you wouldn’t feel any pain at the early stage. But during the early stages, you can notice a black or brownish line on any part of your teeth where the cavity is forming or even a chalky white color. Only your dental team can notice a dental cavity in its early stages when they examine your teeth. At the advanced stage of the dental cavity, you may feel a teeth sensitivity when eating hot or cold foods, and pain while chewing.
Prevention of Dental cavity
Dental cavities can be prevented when you practice good oral hygiene. If you neglect your oral cavity you wouldn’t be far from getting a dental cavity. The only way to prevent dental cavities is by brushing your teeth regularly and properly. The ideal thing is to brush the last thing at night and in the morning after breakfast with fluoride toothpaste. At the same time, brushing endeavors to touch the inner, outer, and biting surfaces of your teeth. Use a string of dental floss to remove food particles in between your teeth.
Lastly, always visit your dentist every six months for a dental checkup this way they can identify a newly formed dental cavity before it starts giving you pain.
What should you do when you have a dental cavity?
Because a dental cavity cannot heal back naturally on its own, the best way to treat it is to pay your Dentist a visit; and they will use a restorative dental material to fill the teeth if it’s still within the size of filling the cavity. Taking drugs can never make your cavity heal back.