Dental decay happens when the enamel and dentine of a tooth become softened by acid attack, producing a cavity (hole).

 

Dental decay, also known as tooth decay or dental caries, is caused by plaque acids that gradually dissolve away the enamel and dentine of the tooth to produce a cavity. Decay damages your teeth and may lead to the tooth needing to be filled or even extracted.

 

Enamel is the hard protective outer coating of the tooth and is the hardest part of the body. It does not contain any nerves or blood vessels and is not sensitive to pain.

 

The pulp is a soft tissue which contains blood vessels and nerves and is in the middle of the tooth.

 

Plaque is a thin, sticky film that keeps forming on your teeth. It contains many types of bacteria.

Why do my teeth decay?

Decay happens when sugars in food and drinks react with the bacteria in plaque, forming acids. Every time you eat or drink anything containing sugars, the bacteria reacts with it to form acid. These acids attack the teeth and start to dissolve the enamel. The attacks can last for an hour after eating or drinking, before the natural salts in your saliva cause the enamel to ‘demineralise’ and harden again. It’s not just sugars that are harmful: other types of carbohydrate food and drinks react with plaque and form acid. (These are the fermentable carbohydrates such as the ‘hidden sugars’ that can be added to processed food, natural sugars like those found in fruit, and cooked starches.)

Snacking on sugary or acidic foods and drinks can increase the risk of dental decay, as the teeth come under constant attack and do not have time to recover. It is there fore important not to keep snacking on sugary foods or sipping sugary drinks throughout the day and restrict them to meal times only.

 

In the early stages of dental decay there are no symptoms, but your dentist may be able to spot an early cavity when they examine or x-ray your teeth. This is why you should visit your dentist regularly, as small cavities are much easier to treat than advanced decay.

 

What happens if I have a cavity? Once the cavity has reached the dentine your tooth may become sensitive, particularly with sweet foods and drinks, and acidic or hot foods.

As the decay gets nearer the dental pulp you may suffer from tooth ache. If the tooth ache is brought on by hot or sweet foods this may last for only a few seconds. As the decay gets closer tot he dental pulp the pain may last longer and you may need to take painkillers to control the pain. You must visit your dentist immediately as the tooth is dying and you may develop a dental abscess if it is not treated.

 

Tooth ache is a sign that you should visit a dentist immediately, as it’s a warning that something is wrong. If you don’t do anything, this will usually make matters worse, and you may lose a tooth that could otherwise have been saved.

If the decay is not too serious, the dentist will remove all the decay and restore the tooth with a filling. Sometimes the nerve in the middle of the tooth can be damaged. If so the dentist will need to carry out root canal treatment buy removing the nerve and then restoring the tooth with a filling or a crown. If the tooth is so badly decayed that it cannot be restored, the only option may be to extract the tooth.

 

No in the very early stages of decay, your dentist may apply a fluoride varnish onto the area. This can help stop further decay and help ‘remineralise’ the tooth. However, it is important to continue with a good oral hygiene routine, using fluoride toothpaste to prevent further decay from developing.

As the adult molars appear, and the tooth is free from decay, a ‘fissure sealant’ can be used to protect the tooth. The sealant is a plastic coating that fills all of the little crevices in the tooth surface, creating a flat surface that is easier to clean. This is called a ‘fissure sealant’. Adults can also have this treatment if the teeth are free from decay.

 

The best way to prevent dental decay is by brushing your teeth thoroughly twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, making sure that you brush the inner, outer and biting surfaces of your teeth. You also need to clean between your teeth and the gumline as these are the areas that the tooth brush can’t reach. You can do this by using floss, tape or interdental brushes such as ‘Tepe’s’ which we sell here.

Visit your dentist and hygienist regularly they will also give you helpful tips on brushing and advise you on which size brush is best for you.

Have sugary and acidic foods and drinks less often and avoid snacking between meals as this limits the times that your teeth are under attack from acids. Chewing sugar free gum can help your mouth produce more saliva, which helps to neutralise any acids which have been formed.

 

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