Learn More About The Dreaded Dental Cavity From Our Saint Louis Dentist
Every patient wants to avoid cavities in his or her mouth. However, few people really understand what kinds of things lead to cavity production. So today our Saint Louis dentists are going to give you important information about dental cavities. We hope that this information will help you take control of the health of your smile!
Let’s start by talking about a healthy tooth. Your teeth are all covered with dental enamel—a strong and relatively non-porous substance that is mean to protect the tooth.
There are several things that can weaken dental enamel:
· Acidic substances
· Continual pressure—such as that produced by the condition bruxism
· Microcracks in enamel—this can happen when a patient picks at his or her teeth with abrasive instruments
· Plaque and tartar build-up
Once your enamel is compromised, oral bacteria are able to infiltrate your tooth. These bacteria collect in plaque and tartar in your mouth. There is no way to totally prevent plaque and tartar build-up. Rather, patients need to take steps to reduce bacterial accumulation, and adopt thorough oral hygiene routines to clear away newly formed plaque.
When bacteria has taken root in your dental enamel, this is a cavity. A cavity generally begins in the dental enamel, and then slowly works its way toward the center of a tooth. The amount of restorative work that will need to be completed in order to treat the cavity depends on how far the infection has progressed.
If you have noticed any changes to your smile that you think may be related to a dental infection, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Saint Louis dentist office. We can help you treat any existing infections, and prevent dental cavities in the future. Give us a call to schedule your personal consultation.