 TOOTH DECAY AT A GLANCEFor a tooth to begin to decay, there most be acid producing bacteria present, as well as a constant supply of food for the bacteria to eat. Teeth that begin to decay have little to know decay fighting fluoride content. Fluoride is the body’s natural dentist, however once the acid overwhelms the fluoride in your tooth it begins to decay. Poor oral hygiene will let plague and tartar build up around your teeth, thus speeding the decay process up. Even though our mouths naturally have different types of bacteria, there is only one type that produces the tooth decaying acid. Some people will always have active decay within their mouths by default. People with this type of decay can pass it on, either to their kids, or by sharing drinks and food with others. It can even me transmitted through kissing. Once the decay is on your tooth, it will begin to breakdown the outer casing of enamel around your tooth. Once it passes through the second layer, it will make a beeline for the pulp at the center of your tooth. The pulp is the most important area of your tooth, because its where your blood flows, and where your nerve endings are. This is where that extreme pain of a sore tooth comes from, as the decay is actively feasting on your nerves. Although decay takes two to three years to eat through the outer enamel, it can go from the inner dentin to the pulp in less than year, sometimes faster! Once it reaches the dentin layer, the decay will wreak havoc on the inner tooth structure, it can destroy most of it in as little as a few weeks. Not all tooth decay is active or inherited, the most preventable type, smooth decay also grows the slowest. This type of decay presents itself as a bright white spot on the tooth, caused by the acid from the bacteria. Young adults between 20 and 30 years of age are most susceptible to this type of decay. Fissure or pit decay is more serious, this cause narrow grooves to form on the back molars of the teeth. This type of decay has a more rapid progression, and will eat through your teeth faster than smooth decay can. Since the grooves formed by this decay are extremely narrow, its pretty hard to reach them with brushing. Even with regular brushing it can be hard to combat this type of decay. Your best weapon against this, is regular visits to your dentist office for cleanings and check-ups. Finally, the last type of decay, is called root decay. This is where the actual root of your tooth begins to wilt. Root decay is most common in middle aged people. It is normally caused by dry mouth or a high sugar content diet. Root decay is the hardest to prevent, and it is the most serious type of decay. It can eat through your teeth fast, leaving you with no choice but tooth extraction. Tooth decay is not a minor issue that you can address later. If you notice any symptoms, you should get treated before the decay spreads throughout your mouth. If you’re smart, and you have regular dental exams, you can prevent tooth decay from even starting. You should brush daily, and use anti-bacterial mouthwash. Bacteria is naturally present in your mouth, however mouthwash targets the harmful acid producing bacteria. If you use common sense, and take care of your teeth, you will not have to even worry about any of this occurring.
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