What is tooth decay?

Tooth decay, also known as dental caries, is caused by a type of bacteria that produces acid which erodes the tooth’s surface (enamel) and it’s under layer known as the dentine. This is can result in the formation of holes called cavities. Dental caries is one of the most common oral diseases, yet it can easily be prevented.

How is it caused?
Dental plaque is a film of bacteria that cover the teeth surface. The consumption of foods high in carbohydrates, predominately those high in sugar, result in acid production by the bacteria in plaque. The acid produced causes the erosion of the enamel, which is the outer layer of the tooth. Demineralisation of the tooth is where fundamental minerals and ions are removed from the tooth, which causes the hard enamel to become soft. Once holes are formed in the enamel plaque and bacteria can then make its way down to the dentine. A cavity is created from the breakdown of the enamel and dentine. As the dentine is softer it erodes quicker, so the process of tooth decay is sped up. If plaque and bacteria get through the dentine then it could reach the nerve of the tooth, at this stage tooth ache is likely to be experienced.

Treatments
o   If caught early enough you may just need to increase plaque control and alter your diet if it is a high sugar one. As well as that they may apply fluoride paste.
o   When cavities are formed then you may need to have a filling, which involves removing the decay and filling the hole. If the hole is quite deep then a crown may be needed instead.
o   Root canal treatment may be needed if the decay has reached the pulp, where the nerve of the tooth is.
o   Occasionally the decay may not be able to restore and the tooth may have to be removed.

Methods of prevention 
  1. Plaque control- reducing the amount of plaque and thus bacteria in your mouth by brushing twice a day and flossing. Moreover, mouth rinses can be used to also remove plaque.
  2. Dietary control- reducing intake of sugars, foods high in carbohydrates and acidic foods, to prevent the erosion of the enamel. Also, minimalising snacking throughout the will help as after eating your mouth maintains an acidic environment for some time.
  3. Using fluoride- fluoride strengthens the enamel and thus using fluoride toothpaste and mouth rinses will help. Your dentist could also recommend fluoride supplements and usually apply a fluoride varnish on the teeth.
  4. Regular visits to the dentist- visiting your dentists regularly for checks can ensure that dental caries is prevented or caught early and advice given can help.
Hope you found this insightful. Thanks for reading
Written by Aarti Chopra
Universal Medicine

Sources
https://www.dentalhealth.ie/dentalhealth/causes/dentalcaries.html
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Dental-decay/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

PTSD - A Psychodynamic Explanation

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety disorder which you may develop after being involved in, or witnessing, traumatic events. The condition was first recognised in war veterans and has been known by a variety of names, such as 'shell shock'. PTSD can develop immediately after someone experiences a disturbing event, or it can occur weeks, months or even years later. Its estimated to affect about 1 in every 3 people who have a traumatic experience, but it's not clear exactly why some people develop the condition and others do not. There are many theories that could be used to explain this condition. Psychodynamic approaches to PTSD focus on a number of different factors that may influence or cause PTSD symptoms, such as early childhood experiences, current relationships and the things people do to protect themselves from upsetting thoughts and feelings that are the result of experiencing a traumatic event. The psychodynamic approach focuses mainly
Read more

Disparities in Global Eye Care

Vision is one of our most precious possessions. Multiple polls globally show that most people are more fearful of becoming blind than losing any other sense. (1,2) With sight being such a valuable asset, one would assume that eyecare is at the forefront of medical services across the world. Living in the developed world, we perhaps take for granted the simple and yet crucial services available to us such as regular eye tests, glasses, contact lenses and high-quality ophthalmic care - most of which can be accessed for free or at a subsidised price. However, in many parts of the world this is not the case. 285 million people worldwide are visually impaired, with 90% being from developing countries. (3) In China, for example, levels of blindness are increasing each year, however critically, rates of blindness have been reported at up to 4 times higher in the developing world as compared to more economically developed countries (4, 5). This is particularly worrying given that around 80% of
Read more

Do Contact Lenses Really “Support Your Vision”?

Image
Contact lenses have been frequently used as an alternative to glasses. Compared to the heavy-framed glasses in front of one’s eyes (optic glasses), thin plastic discs on the eye (contact lenses) help correct refractive errors in both myopic and hypermetropic users. The lens’ shape and power can be tailored to the user’s sight. A concave lens can be used to decrease myopia by reducing light refraction and increasing focal length so that the image is formed on the retina (1)  (Figure 1). Alternatively, a convex lens can be used to limit hypermetropia in an opposing mechanism to concave lenses (1) (Figure 1). Figure 1, An illustration of myopia and hyperopia and how adding lens of different shapes in front of the eye can be used to alter the refraction of light and correct each impairment in vision (10) Besides supporting sight, which both types of lenses can do, contact lenses confer some advantages that make them preferable to glasses. Unlike glasses, contact lenses are less likely to f
Read more