What do I do if I have holes in my teeth?

Caries occurs because of the plaque having a bacterial component. This damages the tooth enamel creating holes in teeth.

If they are not treated at the right time, it can make a pulp reach on the sensitive nerves and cause severe pain.

There are chances of losing the tooth if not treated on right time. However, in an initial phase caries is not painful.

Hence, it is recommended to go to the dentist and have an annual review, since it will be at that time when they can be discovered and treated effectively.

How to treat tooth decay?

Caries has an infectious origin, so the treatment consists of two parts: first, eliminate the infection and then repair and rebuild the affected tooth so that it recovers its normal functional state.

The treatment of caries will depend on the structures that have been affected:

• If only the enamel has been affected, it is recommended that the patient improve their oral hygiene and is scheduled after a while to perform a control review.
• If enamel and dentin have been affected, the infected tissue is removed first. Then the tooth is reconstructed by filling the hole with a composite.
• If the caries is deep and affects the pulp and therefore the nerve, the treatment at the dental clinics more complex since a root canal must be performed first.

Factors that favor the appearance of caries:

No maintenance of poor hygiene:

Brushing teeth after each meal is a sober habit that should be followed by all. If the teeth are not washed properly, the tooth enamel will have plaque formation on its surface with bacterial composition.

Sugar and starch-containing diets:

Diet having maximum sugar and starch will always be harmful to your teeth. So you should brush your teeth after you have those type of foods.

The improper proportion of fluoride :

Here it is necessary to have a balanced proportion of fluoride in your diet. It helps in mineralizing teeth.

Dry mouth:

Saliva contributes to the elimination of bacteria, so the loss of salivary flow favors the accumulation of bacterial plaque.

Failure to comply with dental check-ups and annual hygiene:

A dental check-up by making a search on the best dentist near me and going there for oral cleaning every six months prevents the appearance of tooth decay.

Types of caries:

There are different types of caries:

• Crown caries:it is the most frequent in children, and affects the part of the tooth that chews.
• Interproximal or interdental caries: they are formed in the interdental spaces. They are not easy to detect so it is recommended to perform two revisions a year. Using dental floss correctly can prevent its appearance.
• Root caries:it is one of the most important causes of the loss of teeth. Periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis) is a risk factor against this type of caries, as it causes the gum to retreat.
• Recurrent or secondary caries:appear around the edge of fillings or crowns and covers. Caries may be new or occur because there are remains of previous caries that has not been treated properly.

Caries treatments:

Caries treatments at dental clinic focus first on eliminating the reason for the destruction of the pieces or tissues, trying to preserve most of it, and then on rebuilding the damaged area with solutions such as:

• Fillings:once the area damaged by decay or other condition is cleaned or removed, the dentist will seal the canal with a filling to prevent bacteria from proliferating again.
• Dental reconstructions:when the loss generated by the trauma or condition is large, the dentist will use dental reconstruction. With a biocompatible resin that will stick to the part of the healthy tooth and the dentist will shape the new tooth so that the patient recovers the necessary functions. Imitating the color and shape of the original tooth.
• Endodontics:Endodontics is a procedure that is performed when the pulp of the tooth is damaged and must be removed. The pulp of the tooth that is the inner part that contains the nerves and blood vessels is removed and then the canal is sealed to prevent bacteria.
• Extractions:A tooth extraction involves the removal of a tooth that is unrecoverable from the dental point of view, or is detrimental to the health of the mouth.