What are Dental Caries?

What we refer to as cavities in layman terms, scientists call it dental caries. Cavities are the first sign of tooth decay – and they occur when a specific type of bad bacteria in the mouth increases the acid build-up in your mouth. This acid is hazardous to the tooth's enamel as well its underlying layer known as dentin. All the bacteria present in the mouth are not necessarily bad. The presence of good bacteria in the mouth mainly helps in digestion, amongst others things.

Bad bacteria develop in your mouth in the form of a sticky film known as plaque. The natural substances already present in the mouth, residual bits of food and saliva makes up this plaque. Common places where plaque forms is between teeth, bridgework or around dental fillings, near the gumline or inside grooves, cracks, or pits in the teeth at the back.

How Dental Caries Develop

The bacteria in your mouth converts the starchy (carbohydrates) and sugar-containing foods into harmful acids. The hard enamel covering the tooth's crown has certain minerals which when dissolved by the acid, give rise to enamel erosion. The presence of this acid is very harmful because it further makes its way through enamel pores and reaches the main body of the tooth. This body is a softer layer called dentin.

Cavities occur when the acid has completely broken down the tooth enamel and has passed through to take root in the dentin. The hardest layer to breakthrough is the enamel. Once the decay gets through it, the other inner layers including nerve fibers, soft pulp, and the cementum quickly gets dissolved by the acid. The inner layers are not strong enough to defend themselves and therefore the cavity does not take much time to invade and conquer them.  Thus, if the decay does not get removed in the initial stages, it is likely to get worse in the small duration, thereafter.

Symptoms

Early caries do not exhibit any specific symptoms. Once the enamel gets hit by the decay and the erosion has given way to the acid to the innermost surfaces of the gum, the teeth might become sensitive. This sensitivity will be manifested in feeling sweet, sour, cold or hot too instantly.

Another symptom that shows pre-erosion enamel stage are white spots that the teeth will begin to develop. This is a stage where the enamel has not yet eroded and the inner layers are still protected. Stopping acidic damage and the growth of bad bacteria at this stage might reverse early caries.

Prevention of Caries

Early identification of plaque can prevent caries. One way to do this is to minimize the number of bad bacteria and plaque by brushing and flossing the teeth daily.

Since bacteria cause cavities, using antibacterial mouth rinses can reduce the chances of cavities and the hazards caused by it. Another way is to neutralize the acid amount so that a less friendly environment of the mouth can inhibit the growth of bad bacteria.

In addition, avoid mid-meal snacks to prevent the supply of extra carbs and sugar that might lead to bacteria growth.

Why does this all matter?

For more information about oral health or to schedule an appointment online with Dragonfly Dental of Port Charlotte, request an appointment here: https://dragonflydentalportcharlotte.com. Or call us at (941) 676-9225. Our dental office is located in Port Charlotte.