Dental caries, commonly known as cavities, occur when harmful bacteria eat away at your tooth enamel, causing damage (and even visible holes) on the tooth surface. Untreated cavities result in extensive tooth decay, where the damage extends into the pulp, where it can cause infection, pain, and tooth loss.
Cavities develop slowly, but they don’t come out of nowhere.
Often the first cavity symptom that people notice, tooth pain is one of the early signs of a cavity. Most common when biting down on hot or cold foods, pain occurs after decay has worn through the enamel and reached the tooth root.
Related to sharp pain, general aches and throbbing are caused by more advanced tooth decay, where the dental cavities have led to an infection or tooth abscess. Once the cavity has reached this stage, a root canal treatment is almost always necessary.
As tooth decay eats away at the tooth enamel, it’s common to see discoloration, pits, holes, and staining. Once a glossy white and smooth surface, cavities can cause the affected tooth to have unattractive spots of white, gray, brown, or black.
Holes in your teeth caused by deep cavities can trap food, which can result in bad breath. Even tiny fissure cavities (found in the deep valleys of your back teeth) can retain food and drink, and create pockets of bacteria that can rot and smell over time.
It’s estimated that one in five adults have at least one untreated cavity, but thankfully there are steps you can take to avoid them:
If you’re worried about dental plaque, enamel decay, or gum disease, West Wind Dental is here to help you keep your smile healthy. Located on Centre Street in Portage, MI, we can work with you to establish good oral hygiene habits, mitigate risk factors, and prevent further tooth decay.
Dr. Hamilton is an active member of several professional organizations including the American Dental Association (ADA), the Michigan Dental Association (MDA), the Kalamazoo Valley District Dental Society (KVDDS), the American Academy of Implant dentistry (AAID), the International Academy of Facial Aesthetics (IAFA) and also attends courses with the Pikos Institute in Northwest Florida. He is a member of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICIO), has achieved fellowship status in the International Dental Implant Association (IDIA) and in the Academy of General Dentistry (FAGD), has graduated from and is an alumnus of the Kois Center program in Seattle, and is on the faculty of the Global Dental Implant Academy (GDIA).
The little spare time left over is spent Steelhead and Salmon fishing and the occasional round of golf.