Teeth are bones in the oral cavity that aid in digestion. Regular oral care and sensitivity are required to protect the health of teeth and gums and to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. In cases where oral care is insufficient, bacterial plaques may occur in the mouth and on the tooth surfaces. If bacterial plaques are not cleaned continuously with regular brushing, it creates an acidic environment on the teeth, causing erosion of the tooth enamel and damage to the dentin layer. Caries on the chewing surfaces and anterior surfaces of the teeth can be seen with the naked eye. However, cavities that occur in the interdental, posterior and upper jaw teeth may not be noticed until the decay progresses and causes pain in individuals who do not have regular dental examinations. In order to prevent such situations and to detect and treat dental caries at the initial stage, a routine dentist examination should be performed at least every six months.
What is Tooth Decay?
Tooth decay is permanent damage that has turned into small openings or spaces (cavities) on the hard surfaces of the teeth. The acidic environment that causes this damage is caused by bacteria in the mouth producing acid from food residues containing sugar. Therefore, frequent consumption of sugary and acidic foods increases the likelihood of dental caries. Although dental caries is much more common among children, some factors that can cause tooth decay also occur with age. During the transition from adulthood to old age, the gums recede and the exposed parts of the teeth increase.
However, the root parts of the teeth are covered with a softer layer of cementum than the lower parts. It is much easier for this layer to erode with acid and turn into rot. The majority of dental caries, especially in individuals over the age of 50, are root caries. In addition, dental caries is much more common in adults and the elderly who did not have access to fluoride toothpastes during childhood and adolescence.
What are the Symptoms of Tooth Decay?
Although it varies according to its location, dental caries is generally in the initial stage. be too much It does not cause lyr and discomfort. With the erosion of the enamel and damage to the dentin, pain and tenderness may be felt in the area of the caries during the consumption of certain foods. With insufficient oral care, the cavity in the tooth continues to grow and causes pain in cases such as chewing food and clenching teeth. In dental caries detected at an early stage, the caries layer can be cleaned and filled with filling material. This treatment not only stops the progression of the caries, but also provides the closure of the cavity formed in the tooth. However, advanced dental caries can cause problems that can go up to tooth loss. Common symptoms of dental caries include:
- Toothache that occurs without cause,
- Tooth tenderness,
- Liking sugary foods, cold or hot drinks Pain or sensitivity formation during consumption,
- Visible color change, staining and pit formation in the teeth,
- Feeling pain during pressure-inducing movements such as chewing, biting
- Bad odor in the mouth
What Causes Tooth Decays?
Many of the individuals whose teeth start to decay are looking for an answer to the question of how tooth decay occurs. The main cause of dental caries is the lack of regular oral and dental care and excessive consumption of foods containing sugar, carbohydrates and acids. If we look in more detail, the causes of dental caries include:
- Excessive consumption of gaseous ingredients
- Not brushing the teeth correctly and effectively, not using dental floss, not cleaning the tongue
- Dry mouth
- Reflux disease
- Eating disorder diseases such as Anorexia nervosa and Bulimia nervosa
- Not getting enough fluoride
What are the Types of Tooth Decay?
Tooth decay is divided into dentin decay and enamel decay. The damage caused by bacteria in enamel caries is only in the outermost layer of the tooth, the enamel layer, and there is no damage to the dentin. Cavities reaching dentin are called dentinal caries. Dentin caries are divided into various subgroups according to which surface of the tooth the decay occurs. The types of dental caries in question are as follows:
- Chewing surface caries (occlusal caries)
- Caries occurring on both the lateral surface facing the anterior part of the mouth and the chewing surface (mesial occlusal caries)
- Caries on both the lateral surface facing the back of the mouth and the chewing surface (distal occlusal caries)
- Decay of the two lateral surfaces and the chewing surface together (mesial occlusal distal caries)
- Decay of the anterior surface and the part close to the gingiva, also known as anterior dental caries (coel cavities)
- Root caries in the root of the tooth
How To Diagnose Tooth Decays?
In order for dental caries to be noticed by patients, a brown or black discoloration on a visible surface of the tooth or It should cause symptoms such as pain, tenderness, bad breath. Caries in the initial stage and caries formed in invisible parts such as the lateral surfaces of the teeth and upper molars can be detected in routine dentistry examinations. Caries can be clearly visualized in the imaging of the teeth with x-rays. After the physician determines the depth of the caries and the layer it reaches, the treatment plan is determined.
In primary caries, the cavity is closed by filling after the caries area is completely cleaned and scraped. Root canal treatment is usually needed in deeper caries. It is very important to carry out the recommended treatments as soon as possible in order to prevent the caries from advancing and affecting larger areas.
How to Treat Dental Caries?
Timely diagnosis and treatment of dental caries is of great importance. . In untreated dental caries, permanent toothache, inflammation, tooth fracture, difficulty in feeding and chewing, serious complications that can reach the blood circulation and progress to sepsis may occur. For this reason, dental examinations should not be postponed.
If the decay is at a very early stage in patients with the onset of dental caries, tooth enamel can be repaired with fluoride treatment. In cases where this is not possible, the most preferred method for the treatment of dental caries is dental fillings. In fillings, which is a very short process, the decayed part of the tooth is completely scraped and filled with filling material. In more severe cases, dental caries is treated by placing a material called crown or dental crown on the remaining part after cleaning.
Dental crowns can be porcelain or steel. Root canal treatment is applied if the bruises deepen and reach the nerves. In this treatment, a canal is opened in the tooth and the decayed parts of the tooth as well as nerves and blood vessels are removed. If there is an infection, interventions are made and then the remaining space is filled with filling material. Depending on the condition of the caries, a dental crown can be placed on the tooth treated with root canal treatment. For completely decayed teeth, the only solution is to remove the tooth and replace it with a prosthesis. At the same time, avoiding the consumption of very hot and very cold foods and continuing oral hygiene care are also effective in coping with pain. Avoid consumption of sugary and acidic foods to prevent the formation of new cavities after treatment. It is necessary to brush teeth at least twice a day and use dental floss once. In addition, limiting snacks between meals, using fluoride toothpastes, paying attention to a healthy diet and especially adequate calcium intake are very important in terms of preventing dental caries. If you are, you should apply to a dentist without wasting time, go through the examination and perform your treatments. In this way, you can prevent tooth loss by ensuring that the caries is treated before it progresses. Even if you don't have any cavities, you can have a routine dental examination every six months, so that your possible oral and dental diseases can be detected at an early stage, and you can have healthy teeth.
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