You may not know this, but tooth decay is one of the most common diseases in the world. In fact, it affects over 110 million people every year! The good news is that there are ways to detect and prevent tooth decay from happening. This blog post will teach you all about what tooth decay symptoms look like so you can make sure your teeth stay healthy and strong for many years to come.

Tooth decay, also known as dental caries and cavities is a process that results in the destruction of tooth structure. The cavity erodes your teeth by breaking down their hard enamel coating and eventually reaching deeper into the softer underlying tissues. On crowns or fillings this will show up first before anything else since they are closer to your gums than other areas on your teeth such as cusps. Cavity symptoms usually don’t occur overnight; instead, there’s always some form of warning sign that slowly gets worse over time until you finally decide it’s worth getting checked out by your dentist.

Symptoms

The first symptom is called a white spot lesion, also known as an opaque lesion (due to the fact that it’s difficult for us to see through them) and this occurs when enamel starts wearing away at the gum line exposing more dentin underneath.

Another tooth decay symptom is brown spots which usually appear on cusps or other areas where stains accumulate faster than others. These stains start forming just below your gums all around teeth that have metal fillings because metals tend to corrode over time causing discoloration in between teeth especially if you grind them at night while sleeping. If these stains don’t go away after brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste then it might be a good idea to speak with your dentist about it and schedule an appointment right away. They’ll be able to determine if there’s decay present or not and what kind of treatment plan they would recommend for you going forward.

Tooth decay symptoms typically include general tooth pain, swelling of the gums, changes in tooth color, and temperature sensitivity. Many people’s first indication of tooth decay is that their smile isn’t as bright due to the discoloration.

What Type of Dentist Will I Need?

Your general dentist can help confirm whether you have tooth decay present, but when it comes to treatment you will likely be dealing with a specialist. You’ll need to visit a dental surgeon or endodontist for this type of work because they are specially trained and certified to perform all types of root canals including those on impacted wisdom teeth.

Effect of Sugar on Your Teeth

Sugar is considered one of the major causes of tooth decay. It has been shown that sugars contribute to plaque formation, which damages teeth by changing pH levels.

Why Do My Teeth Hurt When I Eat Sweets

Many people often wonder why their teeth hurt when they eat sweets. This is because the acids in sugar break down tooth enamel, which takes away your teeth’s natural protection. Avoid eating too much candy, cookies, and other sugary foods to ensure you don’t damage your teeth any further.

Importance of Calcium

Drinking milk has been shown to help strengthen tooth enamel because it contains calcium which can rebuild damaged areas of teeth. It also helps create saliva production, which washes away plaque that could otherwise lead to cavities forming on a regular basis. This is why dairy products are considered one of the best natural sources for preventing tooth decay from happening in most cases.

You should keep these symptoms in mind when brushing your teeth at night so make sure you brush thoroughly before bed every day. This way you can prevent any cavities from forming by keeping bacteria off their surfaces until morning comes around again.

If you discover any of these tooth decay symptoms it is important to seek professional dental care immediately so a plan can be created for removing any trouble spots before more damage occurs. There are many ways to treat and prevent future outbreaks if you can catch them early enough.

If you live in the greater Lansing area and are worried you may be dealing with tooth decay symptoms, contact Cavanaugh Dental to set up an appointment.