What do you perceive dental decay to be? Most people think of a hole in the tooth, but they don’t know what leads to the cavity and what happens. Tooth decay is a process that leads to the development of a hole over time. Before you think of dealing with this common problem, ask yourself, how does tooth decay develop? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), oral disease is a significant challenge for many people.
What Happens in the Mouth?
The mouth contains a variety of bacteria. There are hundreds of them in the tongue, teeth, and other areas of the mouth. While some are useful, others can be harmful, like those that cause tooth decay. Typically, the deterioration is due to infection from bacteria found in foods – the make acid from sugars in the food you eat, thereby leading to tooth decay and cavity.
Decay starts with foods containing sugar, bacteria, and dental plaque. These foods include juices, soda, candy, cookies, bread, and milk, among others. After you drink or eat starchy foods or drinks, bacteria use them in producing acids. These are the acids that begin to eat the outer surface of the tooth called enamel.
Is Tooth Decay Infectious?
If you’re suffering from tooth decay, you should tackle the problem by first answering the question – how does tooth decay develop? The worst part of these bacteria is that they spread rapidly. For example, kissing for only ten seconds can exchange millions of bacteria between the two mouths.
Do you practice good oral hygiene? If you do not want to experience tooth decay, consider the right oral health routine, eat a healthy diet, and go for regular dental checkups. Some of these practices include using mouthwash, brushing teeth after meals, and dental flossing.
If you’re at an advanced stage whereby you already have tooth decay, visit a qualified dental expert in Houston, Texas. Several treatments will help restore your oral health, including:
- Sedation and dental anxiety
- Sealants and fillings
- Fluoride treatment services
- Family dentistry
- Teeth Cleaning
- Root canal
- Dental crowns and bridges
How Does Tooth Decay Develop? A Timeline of What to Expect
White Spots on Your Teeth
The buildup of plaque leads to the loss of calcium in your teeth. As a result, you’ll start to notice gray-white areas on the teeth’s surface. The plaque contains bacteria that metabolize consumed foods and forms acid in a process called demoralization. At this point, it’s possible to reverse tooth decay by seeking the right treatment in Texas.
Decay of Enamel
At this point, your enamel begins to break. It happens because the remineralization process does not occur, hence forming a lesion. In other words, there is no proper restoration of minerals and enamel. With the continued decay, the tooth’s surface may break, which is not reversible. If you notice tooth breakage, seek medical attention from a dentist.
Dentin Decay
If you do not seek medical attention, the decay process continues as acids and bacteria continue dissolving the enamel. The sustained damage leads to the decay reaching the dentin, an area between the pulp and enamel. If this happens, the level of pain will start to increase. Therefore, you may experience sharp pain in the tooth. A dental cavity forms after the weakening of enamel due to phosphate and calcium loss.
Find the Dental Care You Need at Lovett Dental Pearland
At Lovett Dental Pearland, we understand that if you do not treat tooth decay in its early stages, it can escalate to excruciating pain. The worst part is that it could lead to loss of teeth. Fortunately, it’s easy to maintain oral health by following our dental health professional’s instructions and directions.
However, before you start treatment, you need to answer the question; how does tooth decay develop? Understanding this is critical in the process of healing. Contact us today at 281-416-5844 to schedule an appointment.