Health
What
Are Cavities?
Adults
are especially at risk for cavities if they suffer from dry
mouth, a condition due to a lack of saliva. Dry mouth may
be caused by illness, medications, radiation therapy and
chemotherapy, and may be either temporary (days to months)
or permanent,
depending on its cause.
“Cavities"
is another way of saying tooth decay. Tooth decay is heavily
influenced by lifestyle - what we eat, how well we take care
of our teeth, the presence of fluoride in our water and toothpaste.
Heredity also plays a role in how susceptible your teeth may
be to decay.
While
cavities are generally more common among children, adults
are also at risk. The types of cavities include:
Coronal
cavities - the most common type occurring in both children
and adults, coronal cavities usually are located on chewing
surfaces or between the teeth.
Root cavities - as we age, our gums recede, leaving parts
of the tooth root exposed. Since there is no enamel covering
tooth roots, these exposed areas easily decay.
Recurrent decay - decay can form around existing fillings
and crowns. This is because these areas may have a tendency
to accumulate plaque, which can ultimately lead to decay.
Adults are especially at risk for cavities if they suffer
from dry mouth, a condition due to a lack of saliva. Dry mouth
may be caused by illness, medications, radiation therapy and
chemotherapy, and may be either temporary (days to months)
or permanent, depending on its cause.
Cavities are very serious. Left untreated, a cavity can destroy
your tooth and kill the delicate nerves at its centre, which
may result in an abscess, an area of infection at the root
tip. Once an abscess forms, it can only be treated with a
root canal, surgery or by extracting the tooth.
How Do
I Know if I Have a Cavity?
Only your dentist can tell for sure whether you have a cavity.
That's because cavities develop below the tooth's surface,
where you can't see them. When you eat foods that contain
carbohydrates (sugars and starches), these carbohydrates are
eaten by the bacteria in plaque, producing acids that eat
into the tooth. Over time, the tooth enamel begins to break
down beneath the surface while the surface remains intact.
When enough of the sub-surface enamel is eaten away, the surface
collapses, forming a cavity.
Cavities are most likely to develop in pits on the chewing
surfaces of the back teeth, in between teeth, and near the
gumline. But regardless of where they occur, the best way
to spot them and treat them before they become serious is
by visiting your dentist regularly for checkups.
How Can
I Help Prevent Cavities?
Brush at least twice a day and floss daily to remove plaque
from between teeth and below the gumline.
Have regular dental checkups. Preventive care can help stop
problems from occurring and keep minor problems from becoming
major ones.
Eat a well-balanced diet that limits starchy or sugary foods.
When you do eat these foods, try to eat them with your meal
instead of as a snack to minimize the number of times that
your teeth are exposed to acid.
Use dental products that contain fluoride, including toothpaste.
Make sure that your children's drinking water is fluoridated.
If your water supply does not contain fluoride, your dentist
or pediatrician may prescribe daily fluoride supplements.
This article
was first published in YahooHealth
Copyright (R)
thedailystar.net 2004
|