Tooth decay is damage that occurs in the tooth enamel or the outermost layer of the tooth which can spread to the dentine layer or even the tooth pulp which has many nerves and blood vessels. This condition can be experienced by anyone, including babies.
Tooth decay can cause pain and swelling around the cavities. In addition, even chewing food will feel very uncomfortable. In fact, you can experience tooth loss.
Causes of Tooth Decay
Tooth decay doesn't just appear out of nowhere. Initially, the bacteria on your teeth will use the sugar from the food you eat to produce acid. The acid then sticks to and erodes the tooth enamel which in turn creates small cavities in the teeth.
When there is a cavity in the tooth enamel, the acid can enter the next layer of teeth which is called the dentin. This layer is not as hard as tooth enamel and is more susceptible to acids.
When the dentine is exposed to acids produced by bacteria, it can open up new pathways for the acids and bacteria to get into the deeper parts of the tooth called the dental pulp.
In the dental pulp, there are many nerves and blood vessels. If the dental pulp becomes infected, swelling and inflammation will occur. Because there is no space in the teeth, the swelling puts pressure on the blood vessels, causing pain.
You are at high risk of developing tooth decay if:
- Rarely clean teeth with toothpaste that contains fluoride
- Often consume food or drinks that contain lots of sugar and acid
- Often eat foods that can stick to your teeth for a long time, such as ice cream, milk, honey, dried fruit, candy and cakes
- Not drinking enough water
- Using inappropriate dental fillings
- Suffer from certain conditions, such as GERD and anorexia
If you feel you have a high risk of experiencing tooth decay, you should immediately consult a doctor. The reason is, at the beginning of the development of tooth decay, some people do not feel any symptoms. As a result, they do not know that their teeth are damaged.
Examination to Confirm Tooth Decay
Before treatment is carried out, the dentist will examine your teeth and mouth and ask about your dental health history. The doctor will also usually ask about your diet and habits in cleaning your teeth.
A number of medications have the potential to cause tooth decay. So, make sure you tell your dentist about all the medicines you are currently taking, whether they are over-the-counter drugs or prescription drugs.
To ensure the condition of your teeth, the doctor can also recommend supporting examinations, such as dental X-rays. With this examination, the doctor can see cavities in the teeth, abnormal tooth structure, and possibly bone loss.
How to Treat Tooth Decay
Treatment for patients with decayed teeth will differ from one another. This depends on the condition and severity. Here are some treatment methods that doctors can use when treating tooth decay:
1. Tooth fillings
Tooth fillings are often the first choice if the damage caused by tooth decay has begun to pass through the enamel erosion stage. So that the hole does not get deeper, the doctor will fill or patch the cavities with special materials.
There are many choices of materials for filling cavities, but dental fillings made from composite resin are more in demand because they look natural and almost resemble natural teeth.
2. Installation of crowns
Installing a crown, aka denture crown, can be a solution if you have a hole in a relatively large tooth. In the process, the doctor will scrape and remove the damaged part of the tooth, then leave a few teeth to be used as the foundation for a crown or denture crown.
Apart from fillings, this artificial crown can also be used to correct the shape, size and appearance of teeth that are not normal.
3. Root canal treatment
If the damage has reached the inside of the tooth or pulp, the doctor usually recommends a root canal treatment method to treat it. This method is used by doctors to repair teeth that are already infected or badly damaged.
The part of the pulp that is damaged will be removed, then patched with special cement. The doctor will also clean the infected tissue so that it doesn't get further damaged.
4. Tooth extraction
In very severe cases, the doctor may remove decayed and decayed teeth. The revocation process usually does not take long. Before the tooth is extracted, the doctor will inject anesthetic into the gum area so that the patient does not feel pain when the tooth is extracted.
Steps to Prevent Tooth Decay
Apart from knowing the treatment options for rotten teeth, you are also advised to maintain healthy teeth so that tooth decay can be prevented. There are several steps that can be taken, namely:
- Brush your teeth at least 2 times a day in the morning after breakfast and at night before going to bed.
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush with a brush head that fits snugly in the mouth.
- Use toothpaste that contains fluoride, which is a mineral that is useful for protecting and maintaining the strength of tooth enamel.
- Clean your teeth with floss or flossing to clean between your teeth, at least once a day after brushing your teeth.
- Clean the tongue regularly to prevent the accumulation of food residue on the surface of the tongue.
- Gargle with water or mouthwash after consuming food and snacks.
- Drink lots of water to prevent dry mouth, and clean food debris on the teeth and mouth.
- Limit sweet or sour foods and drinks and eat a balanced nutritious diet.
Having rotten teeth is certainly not a pleasant experience. Therefore, make sure that your dental health is always maintained by going to the dentist, at least once every 6 months. By routinely carrying out dental examinations, damage to the teeth that can trigger tooth decay can also be detected early.