Tooth Decay: 6 Symptoms And Treatments

We eat and use our teeth more than we know. 

According to a US study, the average American spends over 65 minutes a day eating and drinking. That’s about 32,000 hours or about four years spent eating and drinking in a lifetime.

Our teeth are responsible for ensuring that we can eat and survive. And yet, oral hygiene often gets overlooked. In fact, tooth decay is one of the most widespread oral problems that affects 9 out of 10 adults over the age of 20. 

Knowing the symptoms and signs of tooth decay can help you determine the best treatment to restore healthy teeth and gums. This article aims to share the basic information you need to know about tooth decay. 

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Understanding Tooth Decay And Its Stages

Tooth decay is the damage that emerges in your teeth. It occurs when bacteria in your mouth convert the sugars present in your food into acid that attacks your teeth’s surface or enamel. This can create tiny holes, also known as cavities or dental caries, that gradually get bigger, if left untreated.   

        

Since cavities are unnoticeable and don’t cause pain in the beginning, it can be difficult to realize that you have a potential tooth problem. 

Tooth decay doesn’t occur immediately. It happens over time in a series of stages as follows:

• Demineralization

As mentioned before, the surface or outer layer of your teeth is composed of enamel, which is the hardest tissue of the body and is made up of minerals. However, as your teeth are exposed to acids produced by bacteria, your teeth’s enamel starts to lose these minerals which cause the white spots on your teeth.

• Cavity Formation

When white spots appear and you fail to have them treated, the acid will continue to weaken and break down your tooth enamel. Those white spots will gradually darken to a brownish color and the cavity will start to form.  

• Dentin Decay

After the enamel, you’ll find a softer tissue called dentin which covers the pulp at the center of a tooth. Since it’s softer, dentin is more sensitive to damage and decays much faster. Thus, tooth decay progresses at a faster rate when it breaches the dentin.  

Also, since dentin contains tubes connected to the nerves of your tooth, if affected by acid, you may start experiencing sensitivity.

• Pulp Damage

Next to the dentin is the pulp which is the innermost layer of the tooth. It consists of blood vessels and nerves that keep your teeth healthy and provide a sensation to your teeth. Once tooth decay spreads to the tooth’s pulp, it will become irritated and start swelling.

At this point, you really should visit a reliable dentist like Durango Dental to treat the damage.

• Infection And Gum Disease

If tooth decay is still not treated after reaching the pulp, it can evolve into a full infection that affects the blood vessels and nerves of your tooth. But it can also move deeper into your jawbone. 

Increased inflammation in your tooth can result in a pocket of an abscess forming at the bottom of your tooth. If left untreated, the tooth could die eventually. 

Signs And Symptoms Of Tooth Decay

The symptoms of tooth decay can vary depending on the severity of the damage. In the early stages of tooth decay, some people may not feel any symptoms at all. However, as tooth decay progresses, you will start to experience the following:

• Tooth Sensitivity

This is the first symptom you’ll notice when you have tooth decay. You may start to feel pain or tenderness when drinking or eating something cold or hot.

• Toothache

As decay progresses deeper into the tooth, you’ll experience the dreaded toothache. This can be a continuous pain that keeps you awake or the occasional sharp pain.

• White, brown, or black spots

As mentioned before, these spots are caused by the acids breaking down your tooth’s surface. 

• Bad Breath And Unpleasant Taste

The bacteria that cause tooth decay produce foul odor gases (sulfur) and bad-tasting byproducts that also cause bad breath and an unpleasant taste in your mouth. In addition, as cavities occur, bacteria can also get stuck and accumulate in decay pockets. This makes it more difficult to clean your mouth and creates an unpleasant smell and taste. 

• Biting Difficulty

The hole or cavity created by the bacteria as they work their way down into your tooth becomes a perfect place for food to get stuck into. This can create pressure and irritate the pulp inside your tooth. As a result, you experience painful flare-ups every time you bite or chew your food. 

• Abscess

With an abscessed tooth, you’ll see swollen gum that’s filled with pus. Dental infection opens up a wider array of symptoms including:

• Intense throbbing pain 
• Pain that spreads to your neck, ear, and jaw on the same side as the affected tooth
• Facial swelling and redness
• Fever as the infection spreads
• Difficulty in fully opening your mouth, breathing, or swallowing

 

How Is Tooth Decay Treated?

The required treatment will depend on the severity of the tooth decay. Tooth decay treatments include:

• Treating Pain

Tooth decay can cause a deal of discomfort and pain. As such, your dentist will recommend some treatments to prevent irritation while you wait for your scheduled appointment. 

• OTC Pain Relievers

Over-the-counter pain relievers can help in managing your tooth pain before you can be seen by your dentist. A few options include Aspirin, Naproxen, Acetaminophen, and Ibuprofen. 

• Eating Limitations

Your dentist may recommend you to stay away from certain foods, especially cold or hot foods and beverages, to manage pain. 

• Oral Hygiene

Although it may be painful, it’s recommended that you keep up with your oral hygiene and continue brushing your teeth, including the sensitive areas. This helps to slow down the progress of tooth decay. 

• Natural Remedies

If you don’t like to take medications, you can also try staple natural remedies that can help ease tooth pain. These may include salt water or hydrogen peroxide rinse, chewing on a clove of fresh garlic, dabbing a small amount of vanilla extract on the affected tooth, and applying a cold compress. 

• Fluoride Treatments

When tooth decay is caught early, your dentist can provide fluoride treatments to reverse it before more permanent damage occurs. 

Fluoride treatments are often applied to the affected teeth in the form of a gel. It helps in strengthening your enamel by rebuilding minerals and making it more resistant to the acids created by bacteria. 

In addition to receiving professional fluoride treatment, your dentist may also prescribe you a special, high-fluoride toothpaste that can help reverse early signs of tooth decay. 

• Fillings

When holes start to form, dentists often prescribe fillings to treat the cavities. A filling helps restore a tooth damaged by decay back to its normal shape and function. 

Your dentist will need to drill out the decaying material and clean your tooth. Then, they’ll simply fill the hole with a material that’s often the same color as your tooth. Dental fillings are often made of composite resin, ceramic, silver amalgam, or even gold. 

• Crowns

For larger holes or cavities that occur due to severe tooth decay, your dentist will suggest a crown instead of a filling. Think of dental crowns as tooth caps. They cover and restore a tooth that’s been significantly affected by decay or damage. 

Dental crowns are made from materials like composite resin, porcelain, metal-fused porcelain, and gold. They are also customizable to feel and look like natural teeth. 

To place a crown, your dentist will first remove the outer part of your tooth as well as any areas with decay. Then, they will take mold off your tooth and send it away to a technician to create the crown. 

In the meantime, your dentist will fit a temporary crown until the permanent one is ready, which usually takes 1-2 weeks. Once the permanent crown is ready, your dentist will fit it in place using dental adhesive or cement. 

• Root Canal

A root canal is an intensive repair treatment to save a tooth that’s badly infected or decayed. This type of treatment is often reserved for dental specialists called endodontists who treat issues affecting the tooth’s root. 

Root canal treatments are designed to eliminate bacteria from an infected root canal, preventing re-infection and saving the natural tooth as much as possible.

During a root canal, the endodontists will remove the infected or inflamed pulp. The inside of the tooth is then cleaned and disinfected, removing areas of decay. The specialist will then fill the root canal with a rubber-like substance. Lastly, a filling or crown will be placed on the tooth to restore its appearance and strength. 

• Tooth Extraction

If your tooth has decayed beyond repair, your dentist will have to extract the tooth. 

First, your dentist will numb the affected area with local anesthesia. Using various dental instruments, they will gently loosen the affected tooth and carefully pull it from its socket. For a badly decayed tooth, the dentist will make incisions in your gums to get access to the tooth. 

Once the tooth is removed, they will clean and disinfect the socket and will place a piece of gauze over the extraction site to slow down bleeding and promote blood clotting. 

Your dentist may recommend dental procedures such as implants to replace the pulled permanent tooth and prevent your teeth from shifting and changing your bite and appearance. 

Take Away

You’d never want to experience the pain that comes with tooth decay. But, in case you already have and you encounter the above symptoms and signs, make sure to schedule an appointment with your dentist for an exam. Your dentist may recommend any of the above treatment solutions, depending on the severity of your tooth decay. 

Never leave tooth decay untreated which can result in more serious conditions later on. Also, make sure to follow the above tips in taking care of your teeth and gums to prevent the unpleasant experience of decaying teeth.