Dental Health: Cavities

Dental Health:

Cavities

Dental Health

Keeping Your Teeth Clean

Cavities

Wisdom Teeth

Braces

No one likes cavities! Did you know that the best way to avoid getting them is preventing them? Read on to learn more.

What are cavities?

Another word for a dental “cavity” is “caries”. A cavity is a hole in a tooth that is caused by tooth decay. Any of the following can affect whether or not you will develop a cavity:

Lifestyle (i.e smoking)
Dental Hygiene
Eating Habits
Fluoride in water and toothpaste

To understand how a tooth decays, let’s find out what is naturally in your mouth.

Saliva—keeps teeth and oral tissue moist, washes away food particles left behind when we eat, and protects against viruses and bacteria.

Plaque—is a soft gooey substance, a mixture of bacteria, food debris, white blood cells, and body tissue, that grows when bacteria sticks to teeth. Plaque is removed with brushing but begins to form again right after you brush your teeth.

Tartar—forms when plaque absorbs calcium and minerals from the saliva in your mouth. These minerals form crystals which cause plaque to harden and become “tarter”.

Bacteria—(some bacteria) actually help control destructive bacteria. Bacteria that cause tooth decay can do a lot of damage by making acids that wears away tooth enamel.

How does a cavity form?

The sugar in all carbohydrates (example: potato chips, bananas, pretzels), specifically sweet and sticky foods (cookies and soft drinks) react with the bacteria in your mouth. This reaction produces acid. This acid causes the mineral crystals to dissolve the tooth enamel, the outer protective layer of your tooth.

A cavity does not form unless tooth decay breaks through the outer protective layer (the enamel) of the tooth. The good news is you can prevent cavities from forming!

How do I know if I have a cavity?

Cavities are usually found on the chewing surfaces of your teeth, and between your teeth and near the gum line. If a cavity develops below the surface of a tooth, you won’t necessarily be able to see it. However, if a cavity forms on the biting surface of a tooth, it will look brown or blackish. Just because a tooth doesn’t hurt doesn’t mean that it’s not decayed. Sometimes the biggest cavities are completely painless. If you don’t see a dentist and get treated, a cavity can:

Destroy your tooth
Kill delicate nerves that are in the roots of your teeth
Cause an abscess or an infection within the tip of a tooth

Your dentist can tell if you have any cavities with:

Regular check-ups: Using a metal instrument called an “explorer” your dentist will check your teeth for soft spots. A tooth with tooth decay is usually softer than a tooth without decay. Healthy tooth enamel is hard.

Cavity-dye detection: Your dentist uses an instrument that has a tip like a small toothbrush that brushes special non-toxic dye over your teeth. The dye sticks to the areas that have tooth decay.

X-rays: These special photos can show tooth decay that does not show on the surface of a tooth.

If your dentist finds that you have tooth decay, you will need to have a filling.

Getting a filling:

The area where the cavity is located, will be numbed with a gel, special numbing liquid or both.
After your tooth and the area around it is numb (you won’t feel anything), the tooth decay will be removed and space will be made for a filling to replace what was removed with a special tool.
Lastly, your dentist will put special material (a filling) into the hole or “cavity” to protect the nerves of your tooth.

Does getting a filling hurt?

Getting a filling shouldn’t hurt because your tooth and area around the tooth will not have any feeling (because of the numbing medicine). If the numbing medicine is given as a shot, you will feel a mild sting for a couple of seconds as the medicine goes into the gum area around the tooth. You will likely feel some pressure when your dentist is working in your mouth, but you shouldn’t feel any pain. If you do, tell your dentist!

Will my mouth hurt after the filling?

Some people are sensitive to air, cold or hot drinks, and/or sugary foods for a couple of days after having dental work but the sensitivity shouldn’t last any more than 1-2 weeks. Be sure to tell your dentist if your mouth doesn’t feel right.

How can I help prevent cavities?

Use fluoride toothpaste everyday—Fluoride toothpaste keeps your teeth strong and healthy.
Get sealants from your dentist—A sealant is a protective coating placed over the top of the teeth you use to chew with (premolars and molars). They work by preventing bacteria and acids from sticking to the chewing surfaces of your teeth.
Brush Regularly and Floss Daily—it gets rid of the bacteria in your mouth.
Use a daily fluoride rinse such as ACT®.
Avoid sugary and sticky foods which can lead to cavities.

Next: Wisdom Teeth

Written by the Center for Young Women's Health Staff

Updated: 5/26/2009

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