The Tooth Decay Process: How to Reverse It

Tooth decay can occur, causing pain, infection, and even loss of the tooth. Do you know that a cavity forms as a result of the tooth decay process that happens over time? Do you know that you can stop and even reverse this process? Read this article to know about the tooth decay process.

Tooth Decay (Dental Caries)This topic provides information on tooth decay and cavities.

Tooth decay is the damage caused when germs (such as bacteria) in the mouth produce acids that eat a tooth. It can lead to a hole in the tooth, called a dental cavity. If not treated early, tooth decay can cause pain, infection, and even tooth loss.

The process of decay of toothYou may probably know that a dental cavity is a hole in a tooth. But do you know that a cavity forms as a result of the tooth decay process that happens over time? Do you know that you can stop and even reverse this process to avoid the development of a cavity?

Our mouths are full of a variety of bacteria. They stay on our teeth, gums, and tongue. Some of them are helpful. But some of them are harmful and they can contribute toward the tooth decay process.

Bacteria and food can cause the decay of tooth. A sticky and clear substance (called plaque) forms on the teeth and gums. Plaque contains a variety of bacteria that consume the sugars contained in the food that you eat.

Bacteria feed on these sugars and produce acids. The acids attack the teeth for 15 minutes or more after you eat. As time passes, these acids destroy the enamel layer of the tooth, thereby causing tooth decay and leading to the formation of dental cavities.

When a tooth is exposed to these acids regularly, such as when you eat or drink often, in particular, foods or drinks that contain sugar and starches, the acids attack the enamel to continue to lose minerals from the tooth. Spot may develop where minerals have been lost from the tooth. This is an early sign of tooth decay. Tooth decay symptoms are toothache, sudden pain or pain that occurs without any apparent cause, sensitivity of tooth, visible holes or pits, and pain when you bite.

How can the tooth decay process be reversed?Tooth decay can be stopped or even reversed. Enamel can repair itself by using minerals from the saliva, and fluoride from toothpaste or other sources.

But if the tooth decay process is carried on uninterrupted and is not intervened, more minerals can be lost. Over time, the enamel is damaged and destroyed, thereby forming a cavity there. A cavity is permanent damage that your doctor will have to repair with a filling or by removal of the affected tooth and replacing it with an artificial tooth.

You should always use fluoride-containing toothpaste. Fluoride is a mineral that can help prevent the tooth decay process from worsening. It can even reverse, or stop the tooth decay process. Fluoride protects your teeth. It prevents the loss of minerals from the tooth enamel and replaces the lost minerals. It also reduces the ability of bacteria to produce acids as a result of the decay process.

You can get fluoride by drinking fluoridated water, by applying a fluoride gel, using fluoride toothpaste, using a fluoride mouth rinse, and in many other ways.

Diet is important in preventing a cavity. Every time we eat or drink something that contains sugar or starches, bacteria in our mouth use this sugar to produce acids. These acids begin to eat away the tooth's enamel. It is a good habit to brush teeth after meals, in particular after eating sugars.

Mohd Salman, Mbbs, is a medical science professional and is associated with DiseaseFix as a researcher. Find the most relevant and updated information about the disease in DiseaseFix.