Before understanding the causes of tooth decay, it is first important to know the three layers of the tooth: the enamel, the dentin, and the pulp.
When you look at a healthy tooth, you will only be able to see the hard, white enamel. The dentin just beneath it is yellowish, and can be exposed if the enamel is thin or damaged. The center of each tooth contains the pulp, which is made up of nerves and blood vessels.
Bacteria is ever-present in the mouth, and they excrete acids that disintegrate the teeth, starting with the enamel, until they eventually reach the dentin, and the pulp. If left untreated, the bacteria will create a hole in the tooth, called a cavity, leading to tooth damage, otherwise known as tooth decay. The tooth decay will reach the pulp, and when it does, the tooth will become infected, and eventually be destroyed.
What Causes Tooth Decay?
Bacteria is the main cause of tooth decay. Their presence in the mouth forms plaque, which is a sticky, transparent substance that constantly forms on the gums and teeth. This plaque becomes home to the bacteria. Whenever you eat, the bacteria in the plaque will be sustained by the sugars in your food.
The more sugar the bacteria can feed on, the more acids they excrete. These acids act quickly, wearing down on your enamel within approximately 20 minutes after you have eaten. Given enough time, the acids will break down the enamel.
Certain bad habits strengthen the effects of these bacteria, and also wear out the teeth more quickly.
These are:
1. Failing to brush and floss the teeth regularly.
2. Not finding a way to cure dry mouth. Saliva is your body’s natural way of rinsing the sugars and food off the teeth, and preventing bacteria from flourishing. The causes of dry mouth are: not getting enough liquids, certain medications, and certain health conditions such as xerostomia. Constantly breathing through the mouth can also cause dry mouth.
3. Not going to the dentist for regular checkups, and professional cleaning sessions. Without professional cleaning, plaque will turn into tartar, which is a hard formation on the teeth that will cause not just further tooth decay, but gum infection as well. This can only be removed with the specialized tools used by dentists in Burke, VA.
4. Consuming foods that are rich in carbohydrates, specifically sugars.
5. Smoking, breathing secondhand smoke regularly, and chewing on tobacco. These promote gum disease as well as plaque and tartar buildup.
Once tooth decay has reached the pulp, it causes irreversible damage and unbearable pain, both of which can only be resolved by either a root canal or tooth extraction. You can prevent tooth decay by simply quitting the bad habits that cause it, and maintaining regular dental care visits.
