Cavities: The Five Stages of Tooth Decay

According to the Cleveland Clinic, more than 80% of Americans will have at least one cavity by the time they reach their mid-30s. Cavities form when decay creates tiny holes or openings in your teeth, caused by factors such as bacteria, sugary foods and drinks, and poor oral hygiene.

There are three types of cavities: smooth surface cavities, pit and fissure cavities, and root decay cavities.

 

 

There are five stages of tooth decay

 

Stage 1: Demineralization 

 During the first of the stages of tooth decay, enamel, or the outer layer of your teeth, begins to weaken due to plaque. 

 

Did you know? Enamel is the hardest substance in your body! 

 

Although enamel is the strongest substance in your body, acid produced by plaque can demineralize and weaken it. Once demineralization has begun, white spots will appear on your teeth. These white spots indicate areas where plaque has begun to weaken your enamel. At this stage, you can begin reversing the damage. Oral fluoride products are a good option until you can see your dentist.

 

Reflection Ridge is always accepting new patients. Call us today at 316-721-2024 to schedule an appointment! 

 

 Stage 2: Enamel Decay 

The second stage of tooth decay is when your enamel is weakened to the point it begins to deteriorate. The white spots from demineralization turn brown as cavities begin to form. 

At this stage, a filling is required to prevent a cavity from getting larger. 

Filling cavities is one of our dental services provided here at Reflection Ridge Dental. You can schedule an appointment in person at 7570 W. 21st St. in west Wichita.

 

 Stage 3: Dentin Decay

The decay of dentin is the third stage of tooth decay. Dentin is located beneath the enamel and is softer and more sensitive to acid damage. If cavities are not treated in time, damage to your enamel can deepen into your dentin, causing pain. That pain includes sensitivity to hot and cold food and drinks. 

It is at this stage that tooth decay tends to speed up. If it is caught early enough, it can be fixed with a filling. Otherwise, if too much damage happens, a crown may be required. If you are experiencing toothaches and pains, call us today at 316-721-2024 to schedule an appointment!

 

Stage 4: Pulp Damage

Stage four of tooth decay is damage to the pulp of your tooth. The pulp is the bottommost part of your tooth, located beneath the dentin, that houses blood vessels and nerves that provide sensation to the tooth. 

If tooth decay spreads to the pulp of your tooth, you may notice swelling and increased pressure that causes pain. Lastly, your pulp may die or become necrotic. When the pulp of a tooth has died, you may notice discoloration of the tooth, a bad smell, swelling, and an unpleasant smell. At this stage, a root canal is required to treat the tooth.  

If you have a tooth in stage four, our dentists at Reflection Ridge Dental can conduct root canals. During the procedure, they will remove the damaged pulp, fill the hole in, and place a crown on the tooth. Read more about root canals here. 

Head to our contact page for more information about scheduling an appointment. 

 

Stage 5: Abscessed tooth

In the final stage of tooth decay, stage five, abscesses form. These painful infections form at the bottom of a tooth due to bacteria getting into the decaying pulp. 

If a root canal cannot save the tooth, it may need to be extracted to prevent the infection from spreading further into your jaw and head. Antibiotics may be required to kill the bacteria. 

 

 

Maintaining good oral hygiene through daily brushing, flossing, and regular dental checkups is essential to keep your smile happy and healthy.  If you’re looking for a family dentist, choose Reflection Ridge Dental.

How Sugar Affects Your Teeth

October is a time of high sugar consumption as Americans hand out candy to trick-or-treaters, and as we head into the holidays candy and sugar consumption will increase. We’ve all heard how bad sugar is for our teeth, but do you know why? How sugar affects your teeth is important to know so you can improve your and your family’s oral health.

Sugar and Your Teeth

When you consume sugar, it reacts with the bacteria in your mouth. These bacteria feed on the sugar you eat or drink and form dental plaque. Plaque is a sticky film that forms on the surface of your teeth. As plaque sits on your teeth it will start to form an acid. This acid can start to eat through your enamel and over time can cause cavities.

Studies show that frequent snacking on sugary foods does cause tooth decay. Even starchy foods such as potato or tortilla chips can contribute to cavities. Those foods can typically get stuck in between and into the grooves in your teeth. As the sugar in these foods breaks down into acid, it can damage teeth.

Drinking sugary beverages can be more damaging to your teeth than sugary foods. Beverages such as soda, sports drinks, energy drinks, and juice contain high amounts of sugar but also are acidic on their own. The sugar and extra acidity can do even more damage to your teeth. If you do drink sugary beverages, don’t sip them slowly. This gives the sugar and acid more exposure to your teeth.

Sticky foods such as hard candies, breath mints, or sugary gum can also cause tooth decay. These treats stay in your mouth longer, giving them more of an opportunity to do damage.

How to Fight Sugar Tooth Decay

Rethink what you eat and drink. Stick to healthy, low-sugar foods and beverages. If you do drink a sugary, acidic drink, be sure to drink it with a meal and through a straw so your saliva can work on reducing the damage. Drink more water and fewer sugary drinks.

Practicing good oral hygiene is also a must. Brush after every meal—at least twice a day—with toothpaste that contains fluoride. Floss your teeth daily to remove plaque from in between your teeth. You can also chew sugar-free gum to increase saliva production. Finally, keep your annual appointments with the dentist for a cleaning.

Limiting sugary foods and beverages, practicing good daily oral hygiene, and having bi-annual cleanings at the dentist will help you fight tooth decay caused by sugar.

Tooth Decay

Have you experienced tooth decay or cavities? Decay causes damage to tooth enamel and is common in both children and adults.

Symptoms can vary but include toothaches, sensitivity, and pain when eating or drinking something hot, cold, or sweet.

Decay can form quickly and progress into deeper layers of your teeth if left untreated. As a result, they can lead to infection and tooth loss.

However, you can help prevent cavities from forming by implementing three simple steps in your oral health routine.

At Reflection Ridge Dental, we treat cavities with our innovative laser decay removal technology. Our dental laser allows us to remove decay with little to no anesthetic. Further, we can perform this treatment without using a shot in most cases.

We offer a variety of affordable treatment options for tooth decay based on your preferences. Contact us to set up a consultation with our knowledgeable team of doctors and hygienists at Reflection Ridge Dental.