Reversing and Preventing Tooth Decay

The Stages of Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is a gradual process that worsens over time if not treated as soon as possible. There are five stages of tooth decay:

• Demineralization. Demineralization occurs when acids start to eat away at the enamel of your teeth and begin to weaken them. Although enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, accumulation of plaque and bacteria can start to compromise its strength and cause deterioration. You might start to notice light-colored spots on your teeth, especially near the gums, which are areas where the minerals in the enamel have been leached out.
• Decay of enamel. When the enamel is further broken down, you might start to develop cavities (called dental caries), and affected areas might start to further discolor.
• Decay of dentin. Beneath the protective enamel on your teeth is the dentin, the softer inner layer of the tooth. When decay reaches this far, it can irritate nerves that might make your teeth feel sensitive and begin causing pain.
• Damage to pulp. Below the dentin is the dental pulp, the collection of soft tissue, blood vessels, and nerves inside of your tooth. Once the acids have reached the center of the tooth, an infection will likely develop and you’ll begin to experience throbbing pain and redness in the gums. 
• Abscesses. If left untreated, the infection in the dental pulp will progress into an abscess, which is a painful pocket of infected fluid. While abscesses most often form underneath teeth roots, they can appear in other places like around the jawbone too. If the abscess isn’t treated, the tooth will continue to deteriorate and the infection will spread, eventually causing infection in other areas of the mouth and jaw and resulting in tooth loss.

Reversing Tooth Decay

You cannot reverse decay, especially decay that has progressed beyond demineralization, because, unlike skin, hair, and other parts of the body, enamel doesn’t regrow. Once tooth decay has penetrated the enamel, it cannot be reversed, only treated.

However, you can halt or improve the early-stage condition of weakened enamel with improved oral hygiene, a healthy diet, and fluoride treatments. At this stage, before decay has started to eat away at enamel, you can strengthen the enamel you have left and prevent further damage.

Treating Tooth Decay

The treatment option for tooth decay depends on the stage and severity of decay. Early decay is primarily treated with fluoride treatments, and cavities can be addressed with fillings. If your decay is more advanced and the bacteria has progressed beyond the dentin and into the pulp, you likely need crowns or even root canals. These treatments remove all signs of infection and help restore the strength and integrity of your tooth.

If the decay cannot be treated with a root canal, then your only option may be extraction. Extractions are recommended only as a last resort, when the tooth has decayed too much and cannot be salvaged. Following an extraction, you may then need some kind of restoration, such as dental implants, a bridge, or dentures.

Preventing Tooth Decay

While tooth decay is common, it doesn’t have to be inevitable. However, because tooth decay can’t be reversed, the best thing you can do for your oral health is to prevent it in the first place.

Lifestyle habits

Lifestyle habits and good oral hygiene are some of the simplest ways to protect your teeth from decay. Brushing and flossing at least twice a day is the baseline, and it’s a great habit to take a drink of water or even rinse your mouth after you’ve eaten something sweet. Additionally, a healthy diet that is lower in refined sugars and carbs and higher in produce, protein and natural sugars helps your body function properly, from producing sufficient saliva to cutting down on the bacterial feeding grounds in your mouth. Choose toothpaste with fluoride, and schedule regular dental check-ups every six months to get the extra help from fluoride treatments and a thorough cleaning. If you smoke or use chewing tobacco or other nicotine products, you should consider stopping.

Dental Products

There are an array of dental and oral hygiene products available that can help give good daily habits an added boost for better prevention. Numerous studies have shown that manual toothbrushes do not clean as effectively as automatic ones, so you may consider investing in a battery-powered toothbrush. Choose toothpaste that focuses on remineralizing weakened areas, because this provides the mouth with the minerals your enamel needs to stay strong, and consider adding a mouthwash with fluoride for added protection.

Dental treatments

When combined with routine cleanings and exams, dental treatments like fluoride and dental sealants can play a big role in preventing tooth decay and reversing early demineralization. Fluoride and dental sealants can help keep decay from happening, especially in patients who are at a higher risk of developing decay, while regular cleanings and x-rays can help your dentist catch decay in its early stages, when it’s most treatable.

Protect Yourself from Tooth Decay with Dental Depot

Preventing tooth decay takes more than just basic brushing. At Dental Depot, we provide the comprehensive dental services you and your family need to enjoy a beautiful, healthy smile for a lifetime. From fluoride treatments and dental sealants to fillings, crowns, and restorations, you’ll find everything you need at any of our locations, and all at a commonsense price. We work hard to make getting the care you deserve easy, fun, and affordable, so that’s why we offer plenty of payment and financing options, Saturday appointments, and large treatment bays that are fully staffed, so we can see everyone in your family at the same time.

Don’t wait to start taking the right steps to preventing tooth decay. Schedule an appointment with Dental Depot today to protect your oral health for tomorrow!