Smile with Confidence: A Comprehensive Guide to Dental Health and Care

Cavity

Common Dental Questions, dental care questions and answers, dental health tips, cosmetic and restorative dentistry, dental technology, ask a dentist about cavity

Sugar, the Tooth Killer

Consuming too much sugar can be damaging to your health, but many times we forget how damaging sugar can be to the teeth and mouth in general. About half of kids have tooth decay by the time they are 8 years old. This can lead to a higher risk of developing tooth decay as adults. Each time sugar is consumed, the bacteria on the surface of the teeth converts to acid. This acid basically attacks the teeth and gradually destroys the outer layer of enamel which protects the teeth. This can cause very fast decay of a tooth.

Health Benefits of Braces

Braces have long been used by dental professionals to create beautiful smiles. We know braces are used to help straighten the teeth but there are many other benefits from wearing braces, they are more than aesthetic. Before you get fitted for braces, talk to your dentist about the many other health benefits that are associated with braces. Braces definitely play a major role in enhancing your smile, but they can also be very beneficial in helping achieve wellness and affect your overall health. Here are a few ways braces can offer you a healthier life.

Diseases that Cause Cavities

A smile says a lot about someone. It’s a natural gesture to want to smile back, but what if your pearly whites are less than attractive? Products that whiten teeth have bombarded the market with effort to improve the everyday appearance of someone’s smile. What if our teeth are trying to tell us something is wrong? Okay, most people try to fix their appearances rather than read into warning signs that our bodies are giving us. What concerns should be addressed when looking at a smile that makes you question how many cups of coffee or sweets a person consumes? Well, you’ve come to the right place, these are common medical questions most people will ask the Internet for the answer before stepping foot into a doctor’s office.

What Is Tooth Erosion?

Teeth have four layers. The first layer  is the enamel. The second layer is the dentin, or the inner layer. The third layer is the pulp, which contains blood vessels and nerves. The fourth layer of teeth is the cementum, which is a calcified substance that covers the tooth root. The layer that is most affected by tooth erosion is the first layer, the enamel. When teeth erode, loss of enamel occurs that is irreversible. Tooth enamel is a pretty hard substance. In fact, it’s the hardest tissue in the human body. It’s mineralized hard tissue that covers the tooth and protects it. However, tooth enamel can become chemically dissolved by too much acid. Following is information from top dentists about tooth erosion, as well as recommendations on how to prevent its occurrence.

What Is An Abscessed Tooth?

An abscessed tooth may not sound like such a big deal, but the fact is that an abscess is an infection that, if left untreated, can be life-threatening. An abscessed tooth is an infection that occurs in the pulp, which is the soft tissue found in the center where the blood vessels and nerves are in a tooth. Abscessed teeth can cause pus to form in surrounding tissue. Tooth abscesses are often caused by cavities or other tooth decay or chips, especially if they’re are not cared for properly. It’s vital that anyone who has a tooth abscess seek medical attention right away, as dental abscesses can lead to death if they go untreated. Following is information from top dentists about the symptoms, causes, treatments, and prevention of an abscessed tooth.

Is Soda Bad for Teeth?

The burning question of the day. IS soda really bad for you? In a one worded answer: YES! But, it’s a little more complex than that, isn’t it? Soft drinks do cause cavities. But, even more so, they also cause bad breath, gum disease, tooth decay and really they just aren’t good for your health at all – mouth health and otherwise. Even if you drink a soda during the day and brush your teeth at night, floss, use mouthwash, problems can still occur. The biggest reason soda is bad for your teeth is because it’s a sticky and very sugary liquid that can stick to your teeth. Not only your teeth, but the grooves in your teeth, cracks, and spaces – areas where you might not even able to get into with your toothbrush and floss. Also, the bacteria in your mouth can eat the sugar which causes acid – acid eats enamel and once your enamel is gone it leaves your teeth vulnerable to getting cavities. It’s a really vicious circle. Even if you drink drinks that don’t have any sugar in them, they can contain acid or citric acid. These will still eat away at your enamel and teeth. Here are some stats on acid versus sugar in a few different drinks. In this case HIGH ACID is good and LOW acid is bad:

How to Treat a Cavity?

Cavities are small openings or holes in your teeth; they also may be referred to as tooth decay or caries. They oftentimes build up after plaque and bacteria enter the mouth and “lay” on the teeth, but they also can happen if you don’t brush your teeth, eat too many sweet things and don’t brush and floss between the teeth and in some dentists opinion, they are also caused by a lack of minerals in your diet. In some situations, a cavity can be stopped or slowed down, but in other situations dire measures must be taken. If you have a cavity and you are wondering about the options available to you, please continue to read below.

What is A Cavity?

If you have ever had a cavity, you probably already know that a cavity is essentially a hole in your tooth. But, what you may not be aware of is that a cavity or tooth decay is something that happens over time – have it be weeks, months or years, a cavity doesn’t just soda up overnight, it’s something that is ongoing and eventually turns into a cavity. Most people think that when you get a cavity, it’s the end of the road, but did you know that you can actually interrupt, slow, reverse or completely stop the decaying process? It’s true. Anyone can do this, no matter your age.