| What we do – Dental
Problems |
| Tooth Decay |
<< back |
| What is tooth decay? |
 Dental decay is a gradual but avoidable
process when teeth are dissolved away by acid produced
in the mouth by bacteria. Everyone’s teeth are
covered in plaque which is made up of millions of bacteria.
When sugary foods are eaten, or sugary drinks taken,
the bacteria feed on the sugar and release acid, which
dissolves the teeth. |
| How can tooth decay be stopped? |
| Decay can be prevented by establishing
good dietary habits and cutting down on sugar intake,
and by good mouth care including regular tooth brushing
with a fluoride based toothpaste and the use of aids
to clean between teeth – like dental floss |
| How can your dentist help? |
| Your dentist should check for decay at
every check-up by careful visual examination and gentle
probing of the teeth, and it is recommended that x-rays
are taken at regular intervals to look for early decay
between the teeth. If very early signs of dental decay
are present then your dentist can spot these and advise
you how to avoid a filling becoming necessary. |
| Later stage decay |
| However if your dentist detects decay
at a later stage, then it can be treated by a small simple
filling which can be tooth-coloured. Often early decay
is not at all painful and so your dentist can detect
it before you are aware of symptoms. |
| Unfortunately if decay is left to progress
for too long then it begins to cause symptoms of pain
as the cavity and the progess of tooth destruction proceeds
towards the nerve in the tooth. If it is detected before
reaching the nerve then the larger cavity can usually
be filled but sometimes a crown will be required. |
| What happens of decay is not treated? |
 If the decay reaches the nerve of the
tooth then the nerve is likely to become infected, and
apart from possibly being very painful, an abscess may
form. At this stage the tooth will require root canal
treatment. If you regularly see your dentist then decay
should almost always be detected before it reaches the
nerve of the tooth and so the need for costly and lengthy
root canal treatment should be avoided. |
| Everyone is potentially affected by tooth
decay and some people are more at risk that others. You
can prevent problems with decay by looking after your
teeth, being careful about how much sugar you eat and
drink and visiting your dentist for regular check ups. |
 |
