Cavities are the decayed areas that form under the teeth and develop into tiny holes. A cavity is also known as Tooth decay. It affects both the outer layer of teeth known as enamel and the inner layer of teeth known as dentin. It happens when food containing sugar get trapped amongst teeth and are not totally expelled by brushing and flossing. In some cases, heredity also plays a role for tooth decay depending upon the sensitivity of the teeth. The tooth decay or cavities generally arises in children and sometimes adults also get affected by this. The different type of cavities are:
Coronal cavities: The coronal cavities occurs on the surface of our teeth or between the teeth. This can be seen in both adults as well as children.
Recurrent cavities: The recurrent cavity can form over the fillings or crown as these areas have more chances to produce plaque and hence it leads towards the cavity.
Root cavities: Root cavities occur where the gums are receded and the exposed teeth area allows the cavity to affect the teeth.
How Do I Know if I Have a Cavity?
Only your dentist can tell without a doubt that whether you have a cavity or not. They can easily tell about this by examining the hole under the tooth’s surface, where you can’t see them. When you eat meals that contain carbohydrates (sugars and starches), these starches are eaten by the microscopic organisms in plaque, creating acids that eat into the tooth. After some time, the tooth enamel starts to separate below the area while the surface stays unblemished. The cavity occurs when most of the sub-surface area of enamel get destroyed.
Cavities are destined to create in pits on the biting surfaces of the back teeth, in the middle of teeth, and close to the gum line. The most ideal approach to spot them and treat them before getting serious is by visiting your dentist frequently for checkups.
Your dentist will precisely look at your teeth and will take X-ray of your teeth. If the dentist finds the cavity under the teeth, he or she can repair it for you by first evacuating the affected part of your tooth. After removing the decayed parts the dentist will fill the hole with silver amalgam or colored resins. In some cases, the patient might face pain during the treatment and for this dentist use to give anesthesia to get relief as it will numb the area surrounded by teeth.
Prevention of Cavities
- Brush two times a day and to stay away from plaque floss daily so that all the meals trapped between the teeth can be expelled easily.
- Have a proper diet and eat food that contains less sugar as it will reduce the probability of arising acids between the teeth.
- Go for dental checkups frequently to reduce the risk of any dental disease.
If you would like to know more about how to treat dental cavities or you are looking for a best dental clinic in India, then we at Aesthetic Smiles Dental Clinic under the supervision of Dr. Ritika Arora would love to help you in that. Fix an appointment with the best dentist in India and get a free consultation.