Cavities (caries) in teeth and molars, now what?

 

When you visit the dentist or dental hygienist for a check-up, there is a chance that they will detect a cavity. This creates a bale moment in the chair because now you have to make a follow-up appointment to treat it. If you don't do this, this can have enormous consequences for the rest of your teeth. That is why it is important to look at how you can prevent these caries in the future.

How do caries arise?

Almost all our food and drinks contain sugars and other carbohydrates. This is converted into dental plaque. The bacteria in your mouth convert dental plaque into acids. These acids affect the enamel of your teeth and molars, which can cause cavities. If there are caries in your teeth or molars, they can be sensitive to hot and cold drinks. Eating sweets can also give an annoying and painful feeling. If a dentist does not treat the cavities, there is a risk of tooth decay. This can cause the entire tooth to die and may require root canal treatment. That is why it is recommended to visit your Virginia family dentist every six months to detect early cavities.

How do I recognize caries?

Sometimes you can see caries yourself, but in most cases, this can only be seen by a professional eye. Caries is a dark and, in some cases, white spots on the teeth or molars. When a cavity just forms, it is usually painless. However, when a hole continues, your tooth or molar can become sensitive. You usually notice this when eating and drinking hot or cold food.

How do I prevent caries?

It is important to brush well twice a day. Most cavities are caused by dental plaque. Choose a toothbrush that you feel comfortable with.

An electric toothbrush is best for your teeth because they remove more plaque than a manual toothbrush. An electric toothbrush can make many more movements per second, which removes more plaque. In addition, you can fully focus on placing the toothbrush on the teeth. Gently move the electric toothbrush through the mouth. The device does the rest itself.

In addition to brushing, it is also recommended to brush daily. Most caries arise between the teeth and molars. Therefore, your toothbrush can have a harder time reaching these areas. An interdental brush can also clean in between, which reduces the risk of cavities. Are you more sensitive to cavities? Then it is wise to also use a mouthwash.

Limit your number of eating moments.

Where good oral care is certainly important, paying attention to your eating habits is also good. Your mouth needs at least half an hour after each meal to neutralize the acids. So if you eat several times during the day, your mouth has less time to neutralize these acids. This increases the risk of cavities.

It is recommended to have a maximum of seven eating moments in a day; three main meals and four snacks. Also, pay attention to the sugar content in the food. In addition, do not keep food and drinks in your mouth for too long. The longer it sits in your mouth, the more sugars and acids come into contact with your teeth.

Treating caries

If the caries has not been prevented, it is important to treat it at the dentist in time. A dentist can choose from a number of different filling materials for filling cavities. In most cases, a composite filling is used. The choice per filling can be determined by the location and visibility of the filling but also by durability and patient preference.

When the caries reaches an advanced stage, there is a chance that a crown will have to be placed. This happens when the hole has already damaged a large part of the tooth. If tooth decay has penetrated the enamel, it can even damage the nerve in the root. At that time, a root canal surgery should take place.

In the worst case, the tooth can no longer be saved and must be extracted. After this, it must be filled with a partial denture, bridge or implant.

Remember that regular dental hygienist visits can prevent most damage to your teeth. The dental hygienist performs a dental cleaning in which tartar and plaque are removed. This reduces the risk of caries and tooth erosion. Prevention is always better than cure.