What Causes Cavities?
Understand the causes, types, and properties of tooth decay, which filling material is best? I believe that it is very helpful for patients to maintain their dental health. After all, the two most common threats to the oral cavity, besides periodontal disease, isn’t tooth decay?
There are four elements that cause tooth decay-teeth, bacteria, food, time. In other words, the protagonist must first have teeth-tooth. Then there are bacteria. There are many different types of bacteria in our oral cavity, tooth decay bacteria and periodontal disease bacteria are one of them. Usually these bacteria are in a state of mutual checks and balances, which will not cause much problems.
But if the patient’s oral hygiene is not good, there are food residues, especially carbohydrates, etc., which will be converted into sugar. The remaining residue is not removed in the mouth. Over time, the tooth decay bacteria will use the sugars left in the mouth of our diet for reproduction. Nutrients, and decomposition to produce acid, this strong acid will cause decalcification and corrosion of the enamel on the tooth surface, especially if the patient’s original tooth quality is not very healthy, the decalcification of the tooth surface will proceed quickly.
At the beginning of decalcification, the enamel on the tooth surface will appear opaque white. It may turn yellow or black with time, and it will soften due to changes in the enamel structure, and eventually there will be cracks and cavities.
From the early stage to the middle stage of tooth decay, if the tooth decay has not affected the dental nerve in the pulp cavity, the patient is almost insensitive. After entering the middle stage, because the pulp nerve in the pulp cavity also has some nerve fibers entering the dentin tubules Therefore, some more sensitive patients may start to feel a little cold when eating cold food or sweets. At this time, if the cavities on the surface of the teeth are still not in time, the teeth may start to be congested due to the congestion of the pulp cavity. More sensitive to cold and heat.
The inflammable pulp is still in the reversible stage, that is, as long as the cause of cold and heat is removed, such as filling the cavities quickly, the symptoms will disappear, but if it is left untreated, due to continuous external stimuli such as temperature, the pulp may become inflamed. Will enter an irreversible stage, at which time spontaneous pain may occur, that is, without any irritation, the teeth will also experience severe pain,
At this time, most patients will probably automatically appear in the dental clinic for help. This can also explain why the doctor will tell you to pump the nerves when the toothache comes to the clinic, because usually the teeth are still in the stage of reversible congestion and inflammation, because the symptoms are not obvious enough. Even patients will automatically avoid stimuli, such as avoiding eating foods that are too cold and hot, so it will delay the timing of treatment.
Sometimes the patient’s sensitivity is not enough. Even before experiencing acute inflammation of the pulp, he enters chronic inflammation. It is not until the necrosis of the pulp that he will be uncomfortable because he bites something. At this time, even if the patient has never experienced pain, the dental nerves Root canal therapy is the only option to avoid more severe purulent and even cellulitis.
Therefore, “Small disease does not cure and becomes serious; small money does not cost large money.” As long as the mouth is cleaned on a weekdays, and regular inspection is performed, if there is a small tooth decay or the original filling material is found to be bad, it is immediately updated. The tooth decay can actually be prevented. It’s easy to handle.
A brief summary is as follows:
The process of tooth decay: sugar food + bacteria <plaque>
→ Acid substance → Destruction of enamel (no sensation) → Destruction of dentin (Cold and hot sensitivity)
→ Pulp cavity <nerve inflammation, congestion, pain> → abscess.
But among the elements of tooth decay, there is also a very important “catalyst” to produce tooth decay, which is “time”. Time is brewing, that is to say, tooth decay will not occur immediately even if it is not cleaned. This is why I have always emphasized with patients that it is necessary to put the tooth to a bad place and pull it out. In fact, it takes a long process. Attentively, everyone can protect their teeth and keep it in the best state forever.
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