A dental cavity is basically a hole in your tooth that is more dangerous than it actually sounds. They start off as small holes and turn bigger the longer they are left untreated.
Dental cavities don't form overnight. It takes a while for them to form which means you have time to stop their growth and limit their damage by getting immediate treatment. Contact Dr. Geoffrey Herzog and at Water's Edge Dental for expert consultation regarding dental cavities.
More importantly, keep reading to learn about the causes of dental cavities to help limit their damage.
Build Up of Plaque
This is the primary factor behind dental cavities and most other causes lead to this rather than cavities directly. So, here's what happens. When you eat something, the food particles leftover in your mouth encourage the growth of bacteria that form plaque on your teeth. Plaque is a sticky film that covers the surface of your teeth. It also contains certain acids and bacteria that attack your teeth.
Over time, this plaque turns into tartar, which is much harder to remove and acts as a shield for the bacteria as well. Eventually, bacteria are able to penetrate the surface of the teeth, creating those black holes or gaps and attacking the dentin and then the pulp of the teeth.
This is why it's crucial to treat cavities as soon as possible to prevent them from infecting the inner layers of the teeth. Other factors, such as consuming too many sugary foods, not brushing regularly, or not brushing properly, encourage the growth of bacteria in the mouth. In turn, this encourages plaque on the teeth, which leads to cavities.
Dry Mouth
Certain conditions, such as dry mouth, can also increase the chances of cavities and the following tooth decay. This is because saliva usually discourages the growth of bacteria in the mouth. Therefore, with dry mouth, there's nothing preventing the growth of the harmful bacteria in the mouth.
If you manage to catch cavities in their early stage, it is possible to restore your enamel and prevent further oral damage without any extensive dental treatments. So, keep up good dental habits and visit your dentist regularly.
Our Blog | Water’s Edge Dental | Boise, ID dentist Water's Edge Dental has created this informative blog to help educate the community. Water's Edge Dental, 6657 N. Glenwood Street, Boise, ID 83714-1925 / (208) 391-8554 / watersedgedentalboise.com / 11/25/2024 / Tags: dentist Boise ID /
A dental cavity is basically a hole in your tooth that is more dangerous than it actually sounds. They start off as small holes and turn bigger the longer they are left untreated.