Cavities

Cavities are areas of your teeth' hard surface 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 most susceptible.

Symptoms

• Pain or a toothache that kicks in suddenly
• Teeth with sensitivity
• When you eat or drink sweet, hot, or cold foods, you will experience pain and sensitivity.
• Teeth with holes or pits
• The appearance of brown, white, or black tooth stains
• When you bite down, it hurts.

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. The danger of rotting grows as your tooth enamel deteriorates. Cavities can affect anyone, although certain people are at a more considerable risk than others. Following are some of the risk factors:

• Consuming too many sugary or acidic meals and beverages
• Having bad 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 teeth' enamel.

How Are Cavities Treated?

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

Tooth fillings

We will remove rotten material from your teeth with a scaling appliance and then fill it with a substance such as silver, gold, or composite resin.

Crowns

We may replace the natural crown of your tooth with a custom-fit cap if the deterioration is severe. Before beginning this operation, we will remove decaying tooth material.

A root canal

When your nerves die as a result of tooth decay, we will perform a root canal to preserve your tooth. The nerve tissue, blood vessel tissues, 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 have a consultation with our dentists. Please call us at (973) 370-8917 or schedule an online consultation, and we'll guide you further.