Tooth Decay

Summary

Tooth decay is the destruction and/or damage of the enamel on a tooth, the hard outer layer. It happens when the bacteria in the mouth make acids that attack the enamel. Even though our mouths are full of bacteria, some are helpful and some are harmful. This bacteria forms a soft sticky film called plaque. There is a combination of factors as to how the plaque is formed. Things like frequent snacking, sipping on sugary drinks/food, and not cleaning teeth well. Tooth decay can lead to cavities, which are holes in the teeth. If the decay is not treated, it can lead to infection, pain, and loss.

Below is a picture of what tooth decay looks like on the different layers of a tooth as described above.

Description

Tooth decay occurs when foods that are high in carbohydrates, things as fruits, candy, pop, and bread stick to the surface of teeth. The bacteria in the mouth will then digest these bits of food and turn them into acid, causing the buildup of plaque. Since plaque is acidic, it dissolves the enamel coating on a tooth and creates holes. If the decay continues to get worse then the farther down the tooth it goes, and the more problems you run into. There are five different stages of tooth decay. Each building off of the either gets worse as you go down. 

Five Stages –

There are five stages of tooth decay. Starting with demineralization, during the first stage the outer layer, the enamel, starts to weaken due to the presence of plaque. When demineralization sets in, white spots form on the teeth. The second is enamel decay, which is when the white spots being turning brown. In this second stage, the enamel starts to deteriorate and cavities being to form. The third stage is dentin decay, which is the part of the tooth below the enamel that begins to decay. This is when you may begin to feel sensitivity when eating or drinking hot or cold things, or surgery things. The fourth stage is damaged pulp. The pulp is the layer beneath the dentin, the bottommost part of the tooth, that houses the blood vessels and nerves. This causes a bad smell in the mouth, swelling, and black/grey discoloration. The final stage is abscess formation, the bacteria will get inside the decaying pulp, which typically leads to infection. This can cause severe pain that can spread from just the tooth to the jaw, gums, and face. 

Above is a picture of the different stages of tooth decay. It goes through and shows what happens as the tooth decay graduality gets worse.

Treatment / Prevention – 

Ways to prevent tooth decay is to maintain good oral hygiene. Things as brushing teeth twice daily, being thorough, covering all surfaces of the teeth, flossing, and using fluoride. Having regular dental checkups, going in for cleanings, and making sure everything is looking good. 

Treatment for tooth decay can look a little different depending on the different stages. Filling of cavities, the filling acts as a replacement for the natural enamel of the tooth. The filling is sealed onto the tooth, creating a filling for the cavity. There are also crowns, which are along the same lines.  When it gets bad enough there may need to be root canal treatment. This is one of the last resorts to save the tooth.  Root canals are necessary when the inner pulp of the tooth, containing the nerves and blood vessels, is affected. And the final option is the removal of the tooth. This is an extraction, preventing further complications, like the spread of decay to other teeth. 

News Articles :

1. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/tooth-decay. This article talks about how tooth decay forms and what it is. It goes into the different layers of a tooth, the symptoms of decay, and the treatments.
2. https://www.healthline.com/health/signs-of-a-cavity. This article talks about the different signs or symptoms that can happen with tooth decay. The different stages cause different symptoms.
3. https://www.healthgrades.com/right-care/oral-health/how-to-get-rid-of-cavities. This article goes into detail about the choices made to prevent tooth decay. And what steps to take to ensure better oral hygiene.

 

Reference List :

1. “Cavities/Tooth Decay”; mayoclinic.org ;  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cavities/symptoms-causes/syc-20352892 
2. “Tooth Decay”; medlineplus.gov ; https://medlineplus.gov/toothdecay.html
3.  ” Cavities”; my.clevelandclinic.org ; https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10946-cavities