How do you know if you have a cavity? Usually you will be in a lot of pain!
Cavities are dreaded by virtually anyone for a number of reasons one of the most important of which is the pain that is felt. It can prevent you from going about normal activities and it requires the taking of painkillers to reduce the effect. One important thing about a toothache caused by the presence of a cavity the pain won’t subside until the tooth has been treated by your dentist. The sooner you make an appointment the better.
The effect of a cavity
When bacteria are allowed to remain on your teeth for too long an outer coating called plaque begins to cover your teeth. The bacteria feed off the plaque leaving an acid behind which starts to erode away the enamel on your teeth. Enamel is the tough outer coating that allows you to cut and chew food without doing damage to the structure of your teeth. Once a cavity is formed it allows bacteria to settle inside the hole causing further tooth decay and in the end, the tooth may have to be extracted to prevent the spread of the damaging bacteria.
How do you know if you have a cavity
- The presence of pain in the area of a tooth whilst chewing.
- Pain is experienced while drinking and eating hot or cold substances or even sweetened products.
- The start of chips and cracks developing on your teeth.
- Noticeable darkened areas forming on your teeth.
- White spots or chalky areas can be spotted on your teeth indicating essential mineral loss.
The action you should take when you have discovered a cavity
You shouldn’t put up with any discomfort or even relieve the pain caused by the cavity by taking painkillers, as there are a number of different treatment options available. Therefore you should make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible.
What happens at the dental appointment?
Usually, your dentist will begin with cleaning any damaging material from the cavity including bacteria. The hole will then be filled to bolster up the rest of the tooth so that it looks and feels intact. Your dentist will use a filling material that’s both harmless and matches the colour of the adjacent teeth.
Cavity prevention is better than cure
Cavity formation and how to prevent it has been well researched. The simplest method is to brush and floss your teeth twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste. There are a few people who have a higher chance of developing cavities than others. This can be partly solved by your dentist painting on a dental sealant onto the surface of your teeth. This helps to prevent the bacteria from beginning the process of cavity formation.
Pay a visit to your dentist regularly
The best thing you can do to help prevent the onset of a cavity is to ensure you don’t miss the regular six-monthly dental check-up with your dentist. This will prevent the occurrence of any cavities and the likely negative effect.
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