Tag Archives: tooth decay

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What Does a Cavity Look Like?

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Visiting the dentist is the surest way to identify a cavity. However, knowing how to do so at home can also come in useful. So you need to know: what does a cavity look like? Once you can identify cavities, you can make a point of scheduling your next dental appointment right away.

What Is a Cavity?

To spot a cavity, you need to first know what you are looking for. In short, a cavity is a small hole or portion of wear on a tooth. Healthy teeth will retain their enamel. But if you have sufficient tooth decay, it can eat away at your tooth. Over time, this progresses into an ever-increasing hole.

What Does a Cavity Look Like?

The short answer: not pretty. Their appearance can range from a subtle chalky appearance to highly visible discoloration. Their appearance shifts as they worsen, starting as mild discoloration and eventually turning into something more ominous.

Spotting Cavities in Early Stages

In the earliest stages, you might not be able to spot a cavity without special equipment. Cavities tend to start out as a white, chalky area on the tooth’s surface. This happens due to bacteria beginning to break down the enamel. Most patients easily notice these changes on their front teeth. However, molars may be more inconspicuous.

At this point, we consider this a pre-cavity. The process is called demineralization. At this point, a routine cleaning can help restore your teeth. We may also recommend a treatment to remineralize your affected tooth.

Stain Buildup or Cavity?

Sometimes, discoloration might just be a stain. In either case, we recommend a dental visit. If it is a stain, we could whiten or clean it. If it is a cavity, we can treat that and also restore your tooth’s appearance. Either way, you can leave the office with a brighter smile.

Spotting Cavities in Middle or Later Stages

After the bacteria gets through your enamel, it can start eating away at the tooth itself. This is where things begin to start looking pretty unpleasant. Though cavities start small, they can gradually grow into noticeable brown or black spots on a tooth. It can almost look a little “burnt”, with a darker center and a lighter border.

If you spot active tooth discoloration, it is time for an appointment. Otherwise, that bacteria will simply keep eating away at your tooth. If it goes too deep into the tooth, it can infect the pulp. When this happens, you could need a root canal or even a tooth extraction.

In very late stages, the entire tooth may have a caved-in appearance.

What If I Cannot See a Cavity?

The most insidious part of cavities is that they often can present with minimal symptoms. You might not notice any pain or even discoloration. This especially holds true for molars. Not many people give their molars a close inspection each day.

So cavities can progress to worse problems almost unannounced. This is why having dental exams is so important. Your dentist can use a special device to check for cavities on, around, and between your teeth.

They do not need to even see it. If the tool catches on a tooth, that is because there is a small cavity there. Even small cavities will eventually need treatment, as they can be too small for a toothbrush to clean. This means bacteria will simply continue to build up in there until it worsens.

Do Not Forget About X-rays

Another reason to rely on your dentist for spotting cavities is because they can take X-rays of your teeth. This safe imaging procedure is noninvasive and over in seconds. No pain at all. An X-ray can provide highly detailed images of each tooth, including where there is tooth decay. When tooth decay happens between your teeth, sometimes an X-ray is the only way to assess the situation.

Does a Cavity Smell Bad?

You might not even need to spot a cavity with your eyes. You might simply smell it. Or rather, people around you might. Cavities absolutely can cause bad breath. This happens because the bacteria within the cavity produce unique compounds as they break down food. These volatile sulfur compounds smell quite unpleasant.

The more bacteria in there, the more odor that will come out. Treating a cavity not only protects your tooth, but it can keep bad breath from bothering you and those around you.

DTLA’s Leading Dental Team

If you have a cavity, you want a top-tier dentist on your side. From routine care to complex procedures, we specialize in keeping DTLA smiling brightly.

 

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How Does the Tooth Decay Process Work?

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Many people don’t realize that maintaining our dental health is an important part of maintaining our overall health. Problems such as gum disease and tooth decay can have a greater impact than many fully realize. Read on to learn more about how tooth decay happens and how you can treat it.

 

For more information about tooth decay, dental hygiene, and more complex dental treatments from a dentist in Downtown Los Angeles, visit Samaritan Dental Arts.

What Exactly is Tooth Decay?

Tooth decay happens when the bacteria in the mouth produces acids that then eat away at the tooth itself. This is what causes cavities or literal holes in the tooth. If it remains untreated, this decay causes pain, infection and in extreme cases, tooth loss.

 

The tooth contains three layers. The center of the tooth contains blood vessels and nerves and is known as the pulp. The middle layer is known as dentin and the outer layer is called the enamel. If each layer is affected by the decay of these acids, the more severe the damage.

What are the Causes of Tooth Decay?

It’s not just bacteria that causes tooth decay. Food is also a culprit. Plaque is always forming on your teeth and gums. This clear, sticky plaque contains the bacteria that feed on the sugars in the foods we all love to it. As the bacteria feeds on these sugars, the acids form and attach the teeth for 20 minutes or more after you eat. As time goes on, the acids destroy that outer layer of enamel which causes the tooth to decay.

 

There are some factors that can make you more susceptible to tooth decay. Make sure you do the following to avoid the harmful effects of tooth decay.

 

• Brush and floss your teeth regularly and see your dentist every six months for cleanings and checkups.

 

• Avoid foods high in sugar and other carbohydrates which will feed on the bacteria in your mouth.

 

• Make sure you get enough fluoride which helps to prevent decay by making teeth more resistant to the acids that produce plaque. Fluoride is added to most public water.

 

• Avoid dry mouth which can be caused by some medications or by simply breathing through your mouth. Make sure you have enough saliva to help wash the food and harmful sugars from your mouth which helps to protect your teeth.

 

• Avoid smoking or using other tobacco products.

Common in Children

It isn’t just adults that avoid the dentist who suffer from tooth decay. Children are also susceptible to tooth decay and are actually more likely than adults to suffer from it. The minerals in a child’s teeth are not as strong as an adult and aren’t able to fight off those destructive acids. Babies can also suffer tooth decay if left with a bottle in their mouth as they fall asleep. The sugars from milk and juice can cause a great deal of damage.

How is it Treated?

Treatment will often depend on the severity of the decay. If caught early before a cavity has formed, decay can often be stopped by brushing with a good fluoride toothpaste or with fluoride treatments. However, if the decay has eaten its way through that enamel layer of the tooth, you may need to get a filling if a cavity has formed. Once your dentist removes the decay, they will fill the hole and restore the tooth to its original shape.

 

If the decay is severe, your dentist may need to give you a crown, or replacement for the damaged part of the tooth. If that first layer of the tooth, the pulp, is infected, your dentist may need to perform a root canal to actually remove the diseased pulp of the tooth. If the root of the tooth is beyond repair, your dentist will need to extract the tooth and replace it with a bridge or an implant.

 

There are a couple of home remedy options but they don’t take the place of seeing your dentist regularly. If you have pain and swelling, you can use ice packs on your cheeks for 10 to 15 minutes at a time, several times a day. Do not use heat. You can also take an over-the-counter pain reliever.

Dentist in Downtown Los Angeles

The best way to prevent tooth decay is to see your dentist for regular checkups and brush your teeth twice a day with a good fluoride toothpaste. If you are looking for a dentist in Downtown Los Angeles, you can schedule an appointment at Samaritan Dental Arts. We are open on Saturdays and you can make an appointment by visiting https://www.samaritandentalarts.com. You can also fill out the necessary forms, meet the team of professionals and view a complete list of services. Don’t take your dental health for granted. Make your appointment today.