Things You Need To Know About Cavities

Nearly all of us know what cavities are and how they can affect the oral and overall health. But, most of the times, we do not know about the gravity of situation. Formation of cavities is pretty serious matter which needs to be addressed regularly and, also, on urgent basis. A cavity is mainly referred to as a hole which is formed due to thinning of tooth enamel. Initially, this hole is called tooth decay. When it grows and starts infecting the entire tooth, it’s called cavity.

The tooth enamel

Many of you would have heard about tooth enamel. It is the protective upper layer of the tooth and it is made of hard bone. It is widely believed that tooth enamel is the hardest part of human body. It’s the hardness of enamel which helps us in chewing and biting. Moreover, the tooth enamel is the very material which protects inner part of the teeth. This inner part is known as dentin which further encloses tooth pulp. Dentin and pulp contain nerves and vessels. Hence, this part of tooth is the most sensitive one and it cannot afford its interaction with bacteria and infections. When this interaction occurs, occurrence of cavities is the most likely outcome.

Formation of cavities

Formation of cavities occurs due to wearing out of tooth enamel. This formation of cavities usually initiates with the eating habits. When you eat sugary foods, the bad bacteria in your mouth find their favorite source of sustenance existing to be consumed. This consumption helps those bacteria to produce an acid which weakens the tooth enamel. This weakening of tooth enamel often results in the development of holes which we can call cavities.

The risk factors

Cavities are formed due to certain risk factors. These risk factors may include your own oral habits and/or certain dental health conditions.

• The number one risk factor which can result in formation of cavities is consumption of sugar. Sugar or sweetened foods allow oral bacteria to produce immense amount of acid which can weaken tooth enamel and result in cavities.
• Another equally important thing to be taken into consideration is the oral hygiene. Bad oral hygiene can let the plaque and tartar to make a mess of the tooth enamel.
• If you suffer from mouth dryness for the largest portion of your time, your teeth and gums are more exposed to the attack of bad oral bacteria. Your saliva is not just a fluid which keeps your mouth hydrated. It is filled with antibacterial and antimicrobial agents that actively fight bad oral bacteria and help the good bacteria to flourish.
• If you have had frequent fillings in the past, you should know that you will need to get them frequently tested because those holes in teeth have complete ability to get exploited by the attack of oral bacteria, leading to bad health of your teeth and gums.

What you should do

Besides working on the risk factors, you need to make sure that you visit your dentist every now and then. Even if you have got tooth decay, you can still get your problem reversed with proper care. A fully developed cavity may require you to undergo advanced dental treatment.