Symptoms of a Cavity

Good oral and dental hygiene is very important to increase overall health. An unhealthy mouth can lead to many issues including gum disease, tooth decay, and can eventually increase your risk of having a stroke, heart attack, or diabetes. Not only can an unhealthy mouth lead to serious issues, but it can also be painful and affect your appearance. If you are seeking to be an all-around healthy person or just wanting better-smelling breath, it is vital to take the time to maintain healthy oral practices such as brushing your teeth, flossing, and keeping up with dentist appointments.

What is a cavity?

A cavity, commonly called tooth decay, happens when acid-producing bacteria destroy the tooth’s enamel. This acid-producing bacteria that is in plaque cause the enamel on your teeth to erode away eventually producing holes or pits in your tooth. Alongside not brushing your teeth properly, many foods and drinks cause plaque build-ups such as chips, candy, soda, and milk. Acid-producing bacteria thrive on such foods and drinks to break down the tooth enamel that can lead to gum recession and gum disease.

Foods and Drinks that can cause cavities:

• Carbonated drinks
• Candy
• Bread and cake
• Sweets
• Sugary breakfast cereals
• Milk and flavored yogurts

It is important to recognize the symptoms of a cavity to prevent them from occurring. Healthy oral practices include brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing daily, and keeping up with dental appointments to ensure maximum oral hygiene.

What are the symptoms of a cavity?

Cavity symptoms may vary depending upon where they are located in your mouth and how long they have been there. Feeling pain is not a guaranteed symptom of a cavity in every case because some patients don’t feel any symptoms. The signs of a cavity can be different for each patient but, very common symptoms include:

• Sensitive teeth
• Visible holes or pits on the affected tooth
• Bad breath
• Pain while eating hot or cold foods or drinks
• Tooth pain
• Chalky white or black discoloring on the tooth

Have you felt these signs and symptoms before? If so, please call your dentist to schedule an appointment. If you are located in Southeast Michigan, Fortson Dentistry and our team would love to take care of all your dental needs!

What are the treatments?

The best treatment is prevention, and the best way to prevent tooth decay is by taking care of your teeth by maintaining a consistent cleaning routine. If you already have a painful cavity, you’re most likely looking at a filling. When it comes to treating a painful cavity, most dentists will treat it by filling the tooth to avoid further mouth damage. A filling is done by removing sections of the decayed tooth, cleaning the infected section that was removed and filling the hole with a strong compound that will protect your tooth. The dentist will evaluate the size of the cavity and from there decide which type of compound will be best to fill the tooth.

What is the impact of an untreated cavity?

Many people don’t notice the first signs of cavities, but if left untreated the consequences are likely to become more severe. As tooth decay progresses, a cavity will deepen and widen which leaves teeth more prone to cracking and breaking. With or without breaking, untreated cavities can reach the nerve which causes severe pain and will need to be treated by extraction or a root canal. Untreated cavities are also prone to infection and in some cases severe infections can lead to prolonged illnesses or even death.

To the point

Cavities are a very common oral health condition that can be easily avoided by taking proper care of your mouth. If you want to avoid tooth pain, gum recession, tooth loss, and dental cavities, it is important to practice a healthy oral care routine every day. Make sure to develop daily habits for yourself and your family of brushing your teeth, flossing, and making regular check-up appointments with your local dentist.