Have you ever gone to the dentist for your regular check up and cleaning only to have the dentist discover that you have a cavity (or tooth decay)? How the heck does that happen when you feel like you take care of your teeth?
How Cavities And Tooth Decay Begins And How To Detect It.
Tooth decay is created when bacteria builds up on our teeth to form plaque. The food we consume added to this plaque creates acid and it’s the acid that destroys the enamel of our teeth. How long this takes varies from person to person as enamel is porous and different for all of us similar to hair and nails. makes sense right?
Symptoms of cavities and tooth decay are pretty basic, sensitivity to hot, cold or sweet foods and pain when chewing however, it should be noted that those symptoms don’t always mean a cavity so a trip to the dentist to have it looked at is always the right thing to do if you are experiencing these symptoms. A dentist will not only diagnose a cavity by a visual check but will possibly perform an x-ray to determine if the cavity has gone into the pulp of the tooth.
We want to diagnose the cavity as early as possible to minimize the treatment required to correct it. If detected early enough a simple sealant can be applied to protect the teeth but if the decay has broken into the pulp a filling will be required and in more severe cases even a root canal. Not only is this procedure evasive but it’s very costly, much more than check up and cleaning!
What Happens When You Ignore Cavities.
If you manage to get past the above mentioned layers of a cavity without treatment you may quite possibly be headed down a road that you do not want to travel. Untreated tooth decay can make it’s way to the root of the tooth and the nerve causing painful nerve damage. Bleeding gums and gum disease. It can also travel into other areas of your body that you definitely might not have thought about or heard of. Bacteria in oral plaque can contribute to blocked arteries. Heart attack and stokes? Sounds crazy right? Crazy but true. It doesn’t stop there! Poor oral hygiene has been linked to other serious health issues and are worth talking to your dentist about.
Are you ready to book that check up yet? At Orion Dental we are here to help stop any of this from happening to you! It’s our job to not only clean your teeth on a regular basis but to educate you on how to properly take care of your teeth and gums on a daily basis.
Top Three Steps To Avoid Tooth Decay
Taking care of your teeth is not as difficult as you might think and although we are here to keep you on track it’s up to you to do the daily work and its worth it!
- Brush and floss daily – Brushing twice a day and flossing at least once a day will help reduce the bacteria in your mouth.
- Reduce the amounts of sugary and acidic foods you consume throughout the day, including coffee.
- Use a fluoride toothpaste and/or an antibacterial mouthwash to kill the bacteria in your mouth.
First and foremost your healthy teeth and gums rely on you doing the dirty work (or is that cleaning work) on a daily basis but even doing that won’t guarantee that you will not develop cavities and tooth decay at some point in your life so regular visits to your dentist to have your teeth cleaned and checked are as important as the daily cleanings.
Here at Orion Dental we have two convenient locations to serve you, Milton and Scarborough.
Call us today Scarborough: 416-291-0306 or Milton: 905-636-9770 to book your check-up and we will set you on the road to a healthy mouth and a healthy life!
