Tooth Decay Stages, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment And Preventive Measures

In tooth decay, the structure of the tooth is damaged and enamel of teeth becomes soft. It is due to the breakdown of sugar into your mouth. This breakdown is due to acids that are produced by the attack of bacteria. It can lead to the development of dental caries (cavities). Cavities are holes into your teeth. It can cause severe pain or sometimes tooth loss. Tooth decay and cavities are most common problems among all age groups. But they are more common in children and teenagers. If the decay is spread into the dentin layer of your teeth, then it can be treated with filling. The decay at the stage of dentine does not cause symptoms. Tooth decay can also penetrate into the deep nerves of your teeth. At this stage, it can cause serious infection and tooth loss.

Stages of tooth decay

The plaque in your teeth plays an important role in this decay process. It is a colorless layer that covers the surface of your teeth. It is formed due to the unhygienic conditions of your mouth. This plaque gets harder with the passing time and converts into tartar. The tartar and plaque is made up of bacteria, saliva and particles of food. There are five stages of tooth decay,

1. Demineralization

The demineralization results in the occurrence of white spots on your teeth. These spots indicate the symptoms of tooth damage. These spots appear under the surface of enamel. This enamel is mostly made up of minerals. The enamel initiates to lose this mineral due to the acids formed by the attack of bacteria. This stage can be reversed by using fluoride gel and maintaining proper hygiene. The fluoride gel is responsible for remineralization of the loose enamel’s minerals.

2. Enamel decay

The breakdown of enamel begins in this stage of tooth decay. The white spots that are formed into the first step are now converted into the brown color. The enamel weakens and holes are formed into your tooth that needs to be filled.

3. Dentin decay

The dentine is the layer of tissues that are present under the enamel. This is softer than the enamel and is more susceptible to attack by the bacteria. The pain at this stage is very sharp and intense.

4. Pulp involvement

Pulp is the deeper layer of your teeth. Nerves and blood vessels that are responsible for the healthy teeth are present into the pulp. When the pulp begins to damage, it can cause severe penetrating pain and swelling around the tissues.

5. Abscess damage

This is the final stage of tooth decay. Now the infection is spread into the bones and tissues around the root of your teeth. The pus is formed into the tooth bottom called abscess. This stage causes severe pain and swelling. At this stage, the infection can spread to other parts of the body. Tooth removal is the only treatment for abscess damage.

Causes

Tooth decay is caused by the plaque that forms on the teeth. It is a colorless sticky substance. This plaque combines with sugars and starches from the foods that we eat. When they combine together, they produce acids that attack the tooth enamel. The germs and bacteria into your mouth can cause cavities. Sweets, sweet drinks and high carbonated foods can cause tooth decay. By eating too many sugary or sweet foods, the bacteria in your mouth use this sugar to make acids that attack the teeth.

Symptoms

Tooth decay in its initial stages does not cause any pain and swelling. If the decay is worsen, then signs and symptoms of tooth decay includes,

• Toothache
• Tooth sensitivity
• White or brown spots on the surface of a tooth
• Pus
• Swelling
• Cavity
• Holes in your teeth

Treatment

Early tooth decay can be treated by using fluoride gel or fluoride paste. Fluoride plays a vital role in remineralization. It strengthens the enamel and protects your teeth. It resists the attack of acids by the plaque. If holes are formed into your tooth, then filling is recommended to fill these holes to prevent further damage. In filling, the damaged part of your tooth is removed and replaced with the different filling materials. Sometimes a crown is placed over your teeth to restore its size and shape. It strengthens your teeth and improves its appearance. If the tooth is completely damaged, then the best option for its treatments is its removal.

Preventive measures

You can stopped your tooth decay by following the preventive measures such as,

• Eat chocolates and candies made up of xylitol instead of sugars
• Start brushing with a fluoride toothpaste twice a day
• Avoid using tobacco products