Tooth decay is far more common than you probably realise. It’s just unfortunate that we still can feel ashamed and embarrassed of having problems with our teeth. We often look to blame ourselves when these things happen and see it as something we’ve done wrong. However sometimes these things just happen and it’s not always because of poor dental hygiene. If you’re worried about tooth decay, don’t wait to find out. Come and visit your dentist in Urmston at Stretford Road Dental Practice to find out what steps you need to take to fix your tooth decay.
What is tooth decay?
Tooth decay happens when the enamel on our teeth gets soft and over time the acid makes holes in them. This is caused by food and drinks that we consume – mainly sugars and acids being the main culprits. Tooth enamel is the hard protective outside coating on the tooth – it’s not got any blood vessels, or nerve endings and so is not sensitive to pain.
How does tooth decay happen?
Tooth decay happens when food that has carbohydrates in it gets trapped between teeth and gums and isn’t properly cleaned out and removed when brushing. The bacteria builds up and turns into plaque which then creates acid and starts to rot away at the tooth. So if you’re not looking after your teeth well with a thorough dental hygiene routine you could end up with tooth decay.
It’s also worth noting that even if you do have a good routine if you’re regularly consuming lots of sugary, acidic foods this could contribute to tooth decay, so it’s worth taking a honest note of your diet and the types of foods you’re consuming regularly.
What are the signs I have tooth decay?
If you suspect at all you have tooth decay or cavities please do get in touch with a dentist in Urmston because only they can properly diagnose these issues you’re having and these things are best caught sooner than later. Having said that, here are the signs and symptoms of tooth decay: toothache, and random shooting pains, the teeth feeling sensitive or tingly, sharp pains when you eat or drink hot or cold, if you can see holes or pits in the teeth.
What can help tooth decay?
There are various treatments for tooth decay that can be carried out by your dentist in Urmston these include fillings, crowns and root canals. Depending on how far along your decay is will depend on which treatment your dentist in Urmston will perform on you. If you are in the very early stages of tooth decay a fluoride treatment may be enough to help put back your tooth enamel to full health and prevent further decay.
Moving forward it’s important past treatment you work hard on focusing on keeping on top of dental hygiene and work on the areas that are weak. If you have particularly hard to reach areas because of overlapping or crowding it could be worth addressing these issues with straightening your teeth.