Cavities are areas of your teeth that have been permanently damaged and have developed into tiny gaps or holes. Cavities, also known as tooth decay or caries, are caused by several reasons, including germs in the mouth, drinking sugary beverages, and not brushing your teeth thoroughly. Cavities and dental decay are the most common dental health issues worldwide. Children, teenagers, and adults are all susceptible to developing cavities.

Symptoms of Cavities

• Pain or toothache that kicks in suddenly
• Teeth that are sensitive when you eat or drink sweet, hot, or cold foods and drinks
• Holes or pits in teeth
• Brown, white, or black tooth stains
• Pain when biting down

Causes of Cavities

Plaque, a sticky material that clings to teeth, causes cavities. Bacteria in your mouth convert sugar to acid after you eat or drink sugary foods. Plaque begins to grow on your teeth shortly after you consume sugary foods or beverages. Plaque adheres to your teeth, and the acid in it erodes tooth enamel over time. 

Cavities can affect anyone, although certain people are at a more considerable risk than others. 

Here are some of the most common risk factors for cavities:

• Consuming too many sugary or acidic foods and beverages
• Poor oral hygiene practices, such as not brushing or flossing daily
• Not getting enough fluoride
• Eating disorders 
• Dry mouth
• Acid reflux disease, which sometimes results in stomach acid wearing down your tooth enamel

How Are Cavities Treated?

Treatment of a cavity depends on its severity. Some of the options are:

Tooth Fillings

We will remove the damaged parts of your teeth and then fill the teeth with materials such as silver, gold, or composite resin.

Crowns

We can restore your tooth with a custom-fit cap if the deterioration is severe. Before beginning this operation, we will remove decaying tooth material.

Root Canal

When your nerves die as a result of tooth decay, we will perform a root canal to preserve your tooth. The nerve, blood vessels, and any decaying parts of your tooth are removed first. Then, if necessary, we check for infections and treat the roots with medication. Lastly, we fill the tooth.

Cavities can be avoided by making a few lifestyle adjustments such as brushing twice a day, flossing daily, eating a balanced diet and limiting snacks, and visiting your dentist for regular checkups and cleanings. 

Please reach out to our dental practice in Flanders, NJ, to schedule a consultation with one of our dentists and learn more about treatment for cavities. You can contact our dentist in Flanders, NJ, at (973) 370-8917 or schedule your consultation online.