Are you wondering, “what does a cavity look like?” You never want to hear your dentist say that you have a cavity. This is because cavities are bad news for your mouth. A cavity is a hole in one or more of your teeth. They are caused by gradual tooth decay. In most cases, people don’t even know they have a cavity until it becomes impossible to ignore.
Moreover, once you get one, you’re going to need a dental professional to address it. Let’s take a look at what a cavity is and learn about its causes and treatment.
What is a cavity?
A cavity is a small hole in a tooth that develops due to tooth decay. It can form anywhere on the teeth –even in multiple locations at the same time.
What does a cavity look like?
The appearance of cavities varies greatly. But generally, they look like small holes, dark spots, or chips on teeth. In fact, they can be as large as an entire tooth or as small as dots. Cavities can look black, brown, or even yellow.
Furthermore, not seeing cavities doesn’t mean you don’t have one, or they don’t hurt. You can’t always see cavities with your naked eye. That’s why dentists take x-rays of your mouth to find small cavities.
How do cavities form?
Since you now know what cavities really look like, it’s time to understand how they form. You get cavities when acid wears down your enamel –the protective layer on your teeth. The more often your teeth deal with acid, the more chances they have to develop cavities.
For example, starch or sugar-containing foods and drinks can help form cavities. Acids break down the enamel of your teeth over time. As a result, white spots start to develop on them. These white spots reflect that your tooth has lost a significant amount of vital minerals.
Luckily, you can stop or reverse tooth decay. The enamel has a tendency to repair itself using minerals present in fluoride and saliva. However, cavities cause permanent damage, which only your dentist can deal with. So if you have a cavity, please feel free to contact Dynamic Dental Solutions. We provide a wide range of dental services, in Baytown, TX, to people of all ages.
Oral hygiene plays an integral part in preventing cavities.
There are plenty of bacteria inside your mouth. Some of them are good while others are bad. Tooth decay is formed because of bacteria that feed on sugar. And so, these bacteria produce acid while consuming sugar. As a result, people get tooth decay.
On the other hand, saliva and fluoride are the good guys that help your teeth get rid of harmful bacteria. Calcium and phosphate present in your saliva help strengthen enamel. And fluoride present in your toothpaste, water, and rinse replaces minerals lost during acid attacks.
Therefore, it’s crucial to follow good oral hygiene practices and limit sugary foods to avoid cavity formation and tooth decay.
Treatment for cavities
A cavity is very common in the United States. If you have one, worry not as dentists can treat or fill your cavities through the following treatments:
- Dental bridges
- Veneers
- Invisalign
- Teeth whitening
- Implant restoration
For more information, call us today at 281-837-9090.