Tooth Decay

Additional information relating to Tooth Decay can be found in the following sites:

Tooth Decay is when the tooth’s enamel begins to breakdown due to bacteria living inside the mouth and on the tooth. If left untreated, it may result in the loss of the infected tooth and tooth implants may need to be used to maintain a normal smile.

Causes

The main cause of Tooth Decay is a person's poor choice of diet which generally includes foods and drinks with high levels of sugar. Additionally, acidic foods will further add to the decay of the tooth.

In combination with a poor diet, having a bad oral hygiene practices including not brushing teeth, flossing and using mouth wash will not help the situation.

Prevention

Decay can be easily prevented even though many people suffer from it. Some ways to prevent it include:

• Brushing your teeth regularly will remove food scrapes left on your teeth.
• Flossing after brushing your teeth will remove food in between your teeth.
• Use mouth wash to rinse your mouth and eliminate leftover plaque.
• Regular checkups and teeth cleaning by your family dentist.
• Maintaining a healthy diet, avoiding foods and drinks that have a high sugar content level.

Treatment

Although prevention of Tooth Decay is preferable there are ways to treat the decay of a tooth. The less drastic way includes going to a dentist so they will remove the part of the decaying tooth. After this they may apply a tooth filling to protect the exposed part of the tooth.

However, if the decay reaches the tooth’s inner layer, the dental pulp, it is necessary to perform a root canal procedure to keep the tooth. This involves drilling into the tooth to remove the infected dental pulp and replace it with natural material.

By maintaining good oral hygiene and a healthy diet it is easy to prevent teeth loss through Tooth Decay.