Do you think your teeth are decaying when you see discoloration and black-brown spots on your teeth? Is it right to call every discoloration we see a cavity?
Tooth decay is the oldest known dental disease in history. First, let's examine what tooth decay is. The first stage of caries formation begins when consumed sugary foods are used by acid-forming bacteria in the oral microflora. Bacteria produce acid by digesting these foods. The structure of the tooth, which is vulnerable to these acid attacks, dissolves and decay occurs. White lesions, known as initial caries, can be stopped with the patient's effective oral hygiene care and the dentist's initial treatment application, without the need for treatment. However, the teeth that have not been treated for the first time, have started to decay, and show themselves by sensitivity and pain from time to time, although not frequently, are getting worse and worse, and the opened tooth surface progresses to the pulp layer, which is rich in vessels and nerves, called the pulp of the tooth, and causes pain severe enough to wake the patient up at night. is known. Sometimes, depending on the patient's pain threshold, even if the decay has progressed, it does not cause any pain, and the patient tries to determine whether there is decay in his tooth based on the color change. Caries lesions that start as white lesions may progress to yellow, brown and black discoloration. It is difficult to diagnose caries based on intraoral discoloration alone. Diagnosis should be made based on a professional examination and, when necessary, radiographs and cavitation formation. Afterwards, the decay is cleaned and the lost tooth structure is filled with a filling using the material deemed appropriate by the physician.
Yellow, brown and black stains on the teeth may not require treatment if they do not cause cavitation. However, these discolorations may occur due to several reasons and must be monitored. Medicines used, excessive consumption of tea, coffee and cigarettes, consumption of acidic drinks such as cola and foods containing food coloring cause stains on the teeth. Depending on the person's oral microflora, the high number of cariogenic bacteria causes black discoloration on the teeth. becomes ep. We see that individuals who see this discoloration become worried about caries. Teeth staining can be easily cleaned with polishing procedures. The discoloration of the patient, who receives good oral care hygiene training, decreases with continued mechanical cleaning and regulated diet at home.
A dentist should be consulted to accurately distinguish between tooth decay and tooth discoloration. Thanks to twice-yearly examinations, you can prevent the progression of tooth decay, and you can regain your own tooth color thanks to professional cleaning of stained teeth.
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