Tooth decay is also known as dental cavities or dental caries. It is the destruction of the enamel of the tooth. It is caused by the bacteria. The bacteria are collected on the tooth enamel.
CAUSES FOR TOOTH DECAY
It is occurred by the three factors. They are bacteria, sugar and weak tooth surface.Sugars are comes from the sweets or honey. It also comes from starchy foods such as rice and bread. The starchy are breaks down in the mouth, it forms a sugar. So, the bacteria are live on the inside of a tooth.
Wealthy tooth enamel are ability to resist the acid. But the tooth enamel has small holes and weak spots. Lactic acids are soaking into these holes and dissolve the minerals of which enamel is made.
SYMPTOMS FOR TOOTH DECAY
A tooth is a sensitive one to touch, hot or cold temperatures, to very sweet foods. So, it may easily start to pain. It starts hurting usually has something wrong with it.
DIAGNOSIS FOR TOOTH DECAY
Tooth decay is discovered through the dental checkups. Many people have a routine dental checkup for every six months. In these checkups, a dentist verify at the probes of the patient teeth. If there is any tooth decay, the dentists easily find.
Some of the cases are difficult to detect. It may occur on the back of the teeth. For these cases, the dentists are diagnosed by taking an X-ray of the patient's mouth. In this X-ray film, the decay shows as a dark spot.
TREATMENT FOR TOOTH DECAY
Filling is the treatment for tooth decay. With the help of drill, all the decayed material is removed by the dentist. There are two common materials are used, they are mercury amalgam and composite resin. Mercury amalgam is a combination of metals; it is strong and resistant to wear. Composite resin is a well-built, like a plastic material.
If the tooth reached the pulp, additional treatment may be considered. In this situation, the tooth have to be removed. This process is called root canal. Then the tooth is covered with a artificial coating is called crown.
PREVENTION FOR TOOTH DECAY
Proper oral (mouth) hygiene (cleaning), fluoride treatments, use of sealants, attention to diet are the steps to prevent the tooth decay. It's easier to prevent the tooth decay than to treat it.
Conclusion
During prolonged contact, acid breaks down the enamel of the teeth. This is the basic reason for tooth decay. Salvia helps to protect the cavities by digesting the sugars and cleaning the teeth.