Dentists have their own statistics. They claim that caries — The most common dental disease, it affects at least 95% of the adult population of the planet. If you do not consult a doctor in time, the decomposition of dental tissues will lead to serious complications. Then the treatment will be much more expensive and painful than in the initial stages. You can even lose a tooth. All of these problems are preventable. Let's figure out how to treat dental caries and protect yourself from disease.
- What is caries and how to recognize it
- How the disease appears and what causes
- How to treat dental caries and prevent its occurrence
- Highlights on causes, symptoms and prevention of caries
What is caries and how to recognize it
The very word «caries» means "rotting". The name of the disease accurately reflects its essence. Decomposition of tissues — long process. At the initial stages, it passes painlessly, so only a dentist can determine the presence of a problem during a preventive examination. There are several stages of the development of the disease:
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Superficial caries. A small spot of white or brown color appears on the tooth enamel. Usually a person does not feel any discomfort. If a tooth is affected that is not included in the smile line, you can not even guess about the problem. With increased sensitivity of the teeth, caries announces itself as a sharp or aching pain, a reaction to cold or hot.
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Medium caries. Appears as a black or brown spot. The disease at this stage is already "eating away" enamel and contaminates the underlying tissue — dentine. The tooth reacts to high, low temperature, sour or sweet food.
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Deep caries. Tooth aches often or constantly. He damaged almost to pulp. The next stage will be pulpitis.
Doctors distinguish between separate varieties of the disease. So, cervical caries is called a tooth lesion in the neck zone, close to the gum. There is milk caries that appears in children if parents do not provide proper care for milk teeth. In this case, bacteria that destroy teeth can cause diseases of the respiratory tract, digestive tract, not to mention the infection of permanent teeth.
Recognizing caries is not difficult. If white, brown or black dots appear on the enamel, it's time for an examination to the dentist. Also, the disease is evidenced by discomfort when taking hot, cold, sour or sweet foods. Over time, there is a noticeable smell from the mouth. Sometimes, when touching a diseased tooth with the tongue, a person may feel a rough surface, a sharp edge, or even a hole.
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How does appear and what does the disease lead to
Human saliva has a disinfecting effect. It contains components that prevent the growth of pathogenic bacteria. Under the influence of various factors, this protection can be weakened, and then bacteria attack the teeth. Negative impact:
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Carbohydrates. Excess carbohydrate-rich foods encourage bacteria to multiply.
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Lack of calcium and fluorine.These minerals are responsible for enamel strength.
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Hot and cold food. A sudden increase or decrease in temperature can cause microcracks in enamel.
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Poor dental care. The most common cause of caries. If you brush your teeth rarely or poorly, the disease is inevitable.
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Weakened immunity. Fatigue, stress, illness — all this negatively affects the condition of the teeth.
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Pregnancy and breastfeeding. A woman shares the calcium and fluorine she receives with the body. If there are not enough useful minerals, problems are possible.
- Irregular preventive check-ups.
You have to go to the dentist twice a year. It is easier to prevent diseases or cure them at an early stage than to deal with the consequences.
Don't think that caries only affects teeth. The staphylococcal and streptococcal infections that cause it can affect other organs as well. Hence frequent colds, allergic reactions, heartburn, gastritis. If the infection enters the circulatory system, cardiovascular diseases are not excluded. Caries on front teeth — these are complexes about appearance, which can seriously affect self-esteem and general psychological state.
Causes of caries: how to protect your teeth
If brown or light spots have already appeared on teeth, you should immediately make an appointment with stomatology. It is possible to stop the disease in the initial stages, until the enamel is completely destroyed. To do this, the doctor uses special solutions that strengthen the enamel and prevent the penetration of bacteria deep into the tooth.
How to treat dental caries if the disease has already destroyed the enamel? You will have to drill out part of the tooth, disinfect the cavity and place a filling. Whether it hurts to treat tooth decay depends on its stage. If the infection has reached the dentin layer or pulp, the pain will be severe, so you will need to place a filling under local anesthesia.
Dentists recommend the following prevention methods:
- Adjust your diet.
You need to reduce your carbohydrate intake. Eliminate sweets, flour products and add more cottage cheese, fish, dairy products. Food rich in calcium and fluorine — what you need.
- Take vitamins.
Doctors recommend taking courses of vitamin complexes twice a year. This will strengthen the immune system, provide the teeth with the necessary substances.
- Rinse your mouth after eating.
It is often recommended to brush your teeth after every meal. This is not the best option, as it leads to premature abrasion of the enamel. And here is rinsing with special solutions — great option.
- Use dental floss.
This will help clean the spaces between your teeth and remove food debris in which bacteria breeds.
- Keep bad habits.
This will benefit not only tooth enamel, but and the whole body as a whole.
- Don't skip preventive check-ups.
People tend to forget, ignore dental prophylaxis. Don't give in to temptation. Go see a doctor while nothing hurts.
Following these simple guidelines will keep your teeth healthy for years to come.
Fluoride in toothpaste: benefits and harms for the body Highlights on causes, symptoms and prevention of caries
The condition of the teeth can tell everything about the health and lifestyle of a person. It can be used to judge the presence of bad habits, diet and even the frequency of colds. Caries — a signal that it's time to change a little for the better. Here's what to do to protect your teeth from caries:
- Go to the dentist on time. When you visit a doctor, immediately set a reminder on your phone so that you don't miss your next appointment.
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Dental floss: how to choose and correctly use
You might be interested in: How to place a filling.
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