Tooth decay is one of the most common oral health problems. However, many patients don’t realize they’re dealing with it until they experience discomfort or visible damage. With a variety of causes, this decay can lead to cavity development, pain, and infection if left untreated. Fortunately, this condition is preventable and treatable.
While treatment may seem daunting, a reliable dental team can diagnose early signs, provide effective treatment, and help you make long-term changes to protect your smile. If you suspect you’re experiencing tooth decay and want to learn more about what’s causing it and how to best move forward, keep reading.
What is Tooth Decay?
Your mouth is home to millions of bacteria that feed on the sugars and proteins in your food, aiding digestion. As they process the food you’ve eaten, this bacteria produces acid. While your saliva washes away some of this acid, others may stick to your teeth, beginning the process of wearing down your enamel.
Your enamel, the hardest layer of your teeth, protects the inner systems of your teeth, helping you avoid damage during everyday activities. However, as the acids in your mouth wear down your enamel, you’ll notice the earliest signs of tooth decay. Also referred to as cavities, this decay looks like small pits or holes across your tooth.
When left untreated, this decay can quickly spiral out of control, impacting the tissue inside your teeth. While it can seem daunting, treating tooth decay is simple with the support of a reliable dental team. It is important, however, that you avoid attempting home treatments for this oral condition, as it may lead to further tooth damage.
What Causes This Decay?
The first step in treating your tooth decay is understanding why you’re dealing with it in the first place. There are a few common reasons why individuals may experience this decay, including:
Improper Oral Hygiene
One of the most significant causes of tooth decay is improper oral hygiene. The acid in your mouth is rinsed away by saliva. Any remaining acid should be addressed through comprehensive brushing and flossing. If you aren’t brushing twice daily or haven’t flossed in a while, you may risk developing this decay.
Sugary Diet
There is nothing the bacteria in your mouth loves more than a sugary diet. As they consume these sugars, they create more acid, leading to an increased risk of tooth decay. While it is okay to have sugar in your diet, it is important that you limit your intake, as excessive sugar may put your oral health at risk.
Insufficient Fluoride
Fluoride is an essential mineral in many oral hygiene products, designed to remineralize your teeth. It is found in most toothpaste, mouth rinses, and floss, ensuring you get enough throughout the day. If you’ve decided to limit your use of fluoride, this may increase your risk of developing decay.
Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)
As previously mentioned, your saliva is responsible for rinsing away the acids in your mouth throughout the day. If you’re experiencing dry mouth due to lifestyle habits, stress, or dehydration, you may not have enough saliva to remove this acid, resulting in increased decay.
Medications
Some medications, such as antidepressants, antihistamines, blood pressure medications, and decongestants, will cause dry mouth, putting you at risk of developing decay. If this is the case, you may want to speak to a doctor about whether they believe you should switch dosage or try another medication.
Nicotine Use
When you consume nicotine products throughout the day, whether cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, or chew, this can limit your body’s ability to create saliva, leading to dry mouth. As mentioned above, limited saliva production plays a direct role in potential tooth decay development.
Genetics
Unfortunately, some dental patients are genetically predisposed to develop decay. This genetic predisposition can be incredibly distressing, especially if you follow a strict oral hygiene routine and attend regular dental appointments. However, with the support of your dental team and professional fluoride treatments, you can avoid worsening decay.
Appropriate Treatment Options
If you have developed tooth decay, there are a few things you can do to address it. The most important thing to remember is that a dental professional must perform these treatments. Attempting to address this alone may result in further or worsening tooth damage. The first step your dentist will take to address decay is to perform dental fillings.
This process involves removing any decayed portion of your teeth and filling the resulting holes or pits with a composite resin. This process should restore the appearance and function of your teeth, helping you avoid further problems. If the decay is significant enough, your dentist may also suggest a dental crown to protect the underlying structure while restoring appearance.
How to Avoid Decay
Whether you’ve dealt with tooth decay in the past and want to avoid future problems or you’re trying to prevent it from occurring in the first place, there are a few easy things you can do to protect your smile. If you want to avoid decay, consider incorporating the following into your routine:
- Brush twice daily and floss at least once a day.
- Limit sugary and acidic foods.
- Discontinue the use of nicotine products.
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
- Use fluoride-based oral hygiene products.
- Attend twice-yearly dental cleanings.
By incorporating these steps into your everyday routine and relying on the support of a professional dental team, you should be able to avoid tooth decay.
Quality Dental Care for Every Smile
While tooth decay can be a painful condition, you don’t need to go through this process alone. When you work with a reliable dental team, like our team at North View Dental, you can find relief and restore the appearance and function of your smile. From the earliest signs of decay, our team always strives to help you achieve your healthiest smile yet. Don’t let this decay go untreated out of fear of the dentist. Instead, turn to our team for compassionate, comprehensive support.
If you’d like to learn more about how our team can help you address tooth decay or schedule an appointment, contact our office today.
