How Does Tooth Decay Occur?

What Is Tooth Decay, How Does It Occur?

Dental caries, which is the preventable dental diseases, can be seen in almost everyone. The cavities formed in the teeth cause tooth decay with dark staining. Tooth decay is usually caused by damage to the enamel, the hard tissue of the tooth, the dentin located under it, and sometimes the hard tissue covering the root surface.

Many reasons can be a factor in the formation of dental caries. Causes of tooth decay include bacteria in the mouth that lead to bacterial plaque. The foods people consume include sugary and baked goods. After finishing these products, some residue is formed in the mouth. Residues left in the mouth are converted to acid by bacterial plaques. 

An essential property of the acids in question is that they dissolve the mineral tissue of the teeth. The dissolution of the mineral tissue of the teeth is a significant problem that causes tooth decay. Tooth decay is a type of dental problem treated by dentists. If dental caries, which adversely affect the quality of life, are not treated, they can cause various diseases. 

Causes of Tooth Decay

The causes of tooth decay can be very diverse. Digestion begins in the mouth. For this reason, oral and dental health should be protected regarding human health. The first area exposed to the effects of digestion and food residues is the mouth and teeth. The acids that come out due to food residues significantly affect tooth decay. Acids have the power to destroy the mineral tissue of the tooth.

The deteriorated mineral tissue of the tooth leads to the formation of dental caries. Individual characteristics are also an essential factor in the shape of dental caries. Depending on the tooth's structure, dental caries are among the more common problems in some people. Tooth enamel is of different thicknesses in each individual. Those with thicker enamel may take longer to develop cavities than those with thin enamel. 

Pay attention to oral and dental health can lead to tooth decay in a shorter time. In addition, dental caries that occur when oral and dental health are not taken care of should be treated. When dental caries treatments to be carried out by dentists are neglected, other health problems arise. 

The formation of tartar strengthens the presence of plaques. In this case, it causes the bacteria to be more effective. Bacteria and acids, which have a say in forming dental caries, can be neutralized by keeping the teeth clean. Tooth decay is a dental condition that needs to be treated when it occurs otherwise, it brings more severe problems. 

Who Has Tooth Decay?

Tooth decay is a problem that can be seen in everyone. Everyone has to be fed into the natural flow of life. A person needs to be fed to live a healthy life and to continue life. Dental caries are higher in people who feed mainly on carbohydrates and sugary foods.

In addition, everyone should pay attention to oral hygiene for a healthy mouth and teeth structure. Oral and dental health is an issue that should be considered in terms of general body health. Since digestion starts in the mouth, everyone should consider oral health and cleanliness. Saliva is a natural defense mechanism to prevent acid buildup by bacterial plaques. 

Adequate secretion of saliva is related to the enough amount of water taken into the body. However, saliva alone is not sufficient to destroy acid. Some diseases and medications also have a negative effect on the flow and amount of saliva. In such cases, the formation of dental caries can accelerate.

How To Prevent Tooth Decay?

Tooth decay is a significant health problem for many people. One way to prevent dental caries is to pay attention to oral hygiene first. Brushing the teeth regularly after meals is an effective method for maintaining oral and dental health. Of course, regular brushing is not the only preventive measure, but brushing is essential. 

The places where food residues are most concentrated are the recesses on the chewing surfaces of the teeth and the interfaces where the teeth come into contact with each other. When cleaning these areas, paying attention to the choice of toothbrush is necessary. Small-headed toothbrushes are the type of brush that should be used in this case. In addition, one of the places that should be brushed together with the teeth is the tongue's surface. 

After brushing the inner and outer surfaces of the teeth, it is also appropriate to use dental floss for the interfaces. Apart from cleaning, limiting the consumption of sugary food, not consuming food between meals, and consuming sugary foods at main meals are also measures that can be taken for dental caries. Being under the dentist's control once a year also helps keep the teeth healthy.

In this way, possible caries can be treated with early diagnosis, and taking precautions to prevent caries is easier. It is necessary to be conscious of the actions to be taken to ensure and protect oral and dental health. When choosing the product to use, products compatible with human health should be preferred.

Teeth should be brushed regularly and this should be done after every meal. In addition, the use of dental floss should be made a habit. Cleaning of the areas where the most nutrients accumulate is necessary to remove the residues from the teeth. Otherwise, the residues accumulated in the teeth over time pave the way for many problems, especially dental caries.

What is Tooth Abrasion?

In addition to caries in the teeth, abrasions are also a health problem. Teeth that are exposed to many chemical and physical factors can rot over time as well as wear out. One of the factors that can cause tooth abrasion is the contact of teeth with foreign objects in the mouth. It is seen that acids entering the mouth cause abrasions in the tissue of the teeth over time. 

It is necessary to seek help from dentists in the face of abrasions on the teeth. Tooth abrasion can cause teeth to rot more quickly. For this reason, it is an issue that needs to be taken into account. To protect oral and dental health, it is the best approach to see an experienced, successful, and expert dentist regularly.

How Do You Know If a Tooth Is Decayed?

Some symptoms will inevitably appear before the teeth decay. The degree of these symptoms may vary depending on the problem in the tooth, and in which part of the tooth the decline has occurred. In addition, the size and depth of the caries also affect the symptoms. Some warnings among the signs of tooth decay are:

  • Unexplained toothache, 
  • Sensitivity different from normal in teeth,
  • Pain in the teeth when consuming sweet foods or taking hot-cold foods,
  • Some black or brown stains on the teeth,
  • Visible holes on the tooth surface,
  • Bad breath, which is sometimes seen in case of progression of caries.

What Happens If Tooth Decay Is Not Treated?

To maintain oral and dental health, the teeth must be in a healthy structure. In addition, the protection of general health depends on the health of the teeth. Tooth decay progresses if left untreated. When the acid and bacteria in the teeth surround the entire structure of the tooth, caries spreads to the pulp, where the nerves and blood vessels are located.

Swelling and irritation caused by bacteria and acids also accompany tooth decay. With the expansion of the swelling area, the compression of blood vessels and nerves occurs. As a result, pain occurs. As the acids in the plaques create small openings and holes on the tooth surface, it becomes easier for bacteria to reach the layer called dentin, and toothaches accompanying dental caries become uncomfortable.

Tooth decay can also lead to different health problems if left untreated. Among these, dental caries should not be neglected, as important health problems include rheumatism, osteoporosis, diabetes, and heart disease. You can access the communication tab of our website; You can reach us with the help of tools and make an appointment.