Cavities are a sign that your teeth are not healthy. This condition can trigger tooth pain. Cavities can be treated with proper treatment according to their severity.
Generally the cause of cavities is plaque, which is a sticky substance in the mouth that is mostly created due to a buildup of germs or bacteria that turn food into acid. Then, the acid in plaque can damage the protective enamel of the teeth, causing cavities. If left unchecked, dental plaque can accumulate and become tartar which can interfere with the structure and health of teeth.
How to Overcome Tooth Cavities
Cavities are often painless. The pain or aches generally only appears when the cavity in the tooth gets bigger, affects the nerves, or causes the tooth to break. Toothache can also occur after consuming cold or hot food or drinks.
There are several ways that doctors can do to deal with the pain of cavities, including:
- Give fluorideIf the hole in the tooth is still in the initial stage, aka very small, fluoride may be used as a solution to help restore damaged tooth enamel. How to rub fluoride liquid (gargle), foam, gel, or varnish onto the teeth for a few minutes. Now almost all toothpaste contains fluoride, so that this treatment becomes more practical.
- Teeth filling
Doctors will usually fill cavities that have gone beyond the early stages of decay. The trick, the teeth must be drilled to remove the part that has been damaged. After that, the tooth will be filled using a substance such as silver, gold, composite resin or porcelain
- Make crowntooth
For more severe tooth decay or brittle teeth, your doctor will likely prescribe a dental crowns to replace all crown (crown) natural teeth. Crown these can be made of gold, porcelain, resin, fused metal porcelain, or other materials.
- Undergoing root canal treatmentRoot canal treatment is necessary if the decay has reached the inside of the tooth (pulp) or if the nerve is dead. This treatment is done by removing nerve tissue, blood vessel tissue, and any rotten areas on the skin. After cleaning, the dentist can perform a filling or give crown, so the tooth does not need to be extracted.
- Undergoing tooth extraction
Tooth extraction is performed if the decay in the tooth is so severe that it cannot be reversed and must be removed. The extracted tooth will leave a space or gap that allows other teeth to shift. Therefore, if possible, it is recommended to make bridge or a series of dentures to replace a extracted tooth.
To prevent cavities, it is important to take care of your dental health by getting used to cleaning your teeth after eating, eating healthy foods, and having regular check-ups with the dentist.