Cavities and Tooth Decay

Cavities are most often found before there are any symptoms, because, for quality dental health, everyone should visit the dentist for a checkup and a cleaning twice yearly.  However, cavities can also form in the interim and be symptomatic.
The signs and symptoms of a cavity will vary by location.  However, some symptoms can occur such as toothache, tooth sensitivity, pain in the tooth or in the jaw while chewing, or drinking something hot or cold.
Sometimes cavities may show up as dots or pits on the surface of the tooth. Obviously, these are also symptoms for other oral maladies, however, instead of trying to diagnose the problem yourself, the quickest and easiest and also the safest way to fix it is to consult your dentist.

Everyone can get cavities

While a cavity is very common in children, because of the various changes the mouth undergoes when a person’s young, it can equally affect adults. As adults age the gum tissue does recede, breaking down somewhat and exposing the places on a tooth that can be difficult to clean.
The tooth’s roots are covered by a tissue called cementum, and cementum is much softer than tooth enamel, making the areas of the tooth protected by it much more susceptible to tooth decay.

It’s also possible for an adult to get cavities in teeth that have previously been filled.  The problem is that fillings, over time, can break down at the edges. It happens as tiny fractured gaps, and these gaps allow bacteria to creep in.  These gaps can be practically impossible to see, and, also, be so small that cleaning the bacteria build up in them is difficult to impossible, during a routine tooth brushing. Your dentist will be able to see these gaps, and any other areas of the tooth that are susceptible to future cavities.

Remember, good dental health at home is also important: brush twice daily, floss every day, and watch the types of foods and the amount of snacking you expose to your mouth each day. Cavities can happen to anyone, and if you take the required steps toward good oral health at home, and also visit your dentist frequently, you are doing the much needed preventative maintenance required to have a healthy mouth.

Contact Billing’s Best Dentist for all of your dental and oral health care needs.