Hole in a Tooth
For the most part, cavities are entirely preventable with regular oral hygiene and bi-annual visits to your Stamford family dentists. And even if you have a genetic disposition for getting tiny holes in your teeth, early treatment can repair a small hole easily.
While changing your lifestyle and forcing your kids to brush and floss may not be easy, it’s worth the effort, as it builds a lifetime of healthy habits. Allow your skilled and compassionate dentist at dental care practice located in Stamford, Connecticut to help you and your family prevent cavities and painlessly treat them when they do occur. Call today to find out how.
Keeping up proper hygiene habits at every age is one of the best ways to prevent cavities from forming. Although certain people are at higher risk for cavities, properly brushing and flossing your teeth every day decreases the risks of a hole in a tooth. Additionally, visiting your dentist twice a year — for both children and adults — also ensures a healthy smile with no cavities.
Causes of Dental Caries
A tiny hole in a tooth is usually the result of tooth decay, which happens when bacteria build up over time. During this decaying process, the enamel of the tooth breaks down. Although everyone is at risk for cavities, the risk increases when certain factors are present, including:
- A high intake of sugary and acidic foods and beverages
- Improper dental hygiene
- A lack of fluoride
- The location of the tooth, as molars and premolars are harder to keep clean
- When a baby sleeps with a bottle because the milk or juice stays on the teeth, damaging the enamel
- Dry mouth, as saliva helps to clear away bacteria
- Eating disorders such as bulimia or anorexia
- Acid reflux disease
- Worn-out or ill-fitting dental devices or fillings that rub away the top layer of protective enamel
Children are most susceptible to these holes in their teeth due to the large amounts of sugar they tend to eat and drink, coupled with poor oral hygiene habits. A tiny hole in a tooth is most common in the back molars where it’s easier to skip while brushing and flossing. Although cavities occur most often in children, it’s important to keep up proper hygiene habits no matter what your age.
Common Symptoms
If you haven’t visited your dentist recently, a cavity may start as a toothache or sensitivity. You may be able to spot a tiny hole in your tooth, but at that point, it’s too late to reverse the decaying process. Signs that may be the result of a cavity include:
- Sensitivity and pain in the mouth
- Sensitivity while brushing
- A black, brown, or white stain on your tooth
- Hot or cold sensitivity
Untreated, a hole in your tooth can lead to much more pain, as well as more extensive repairs. If left too long, an untreated cavity can lead to:
- An infection
- An abscess or pulpitis
- Inflammation and pus surrounding the tooth
- Difficulty chewing
- Extraction
- Shifting of your teeth following a tooth loss
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Cavity Treatment and Beyond
Early diagnosis and treatment from your best Stamford dentists are vital to the health of your teeth. With an advanced cavity, your dentist usually suggests a cavity filling, during which the decay is drilled out. Then your dentist fills the tooth with natural-looking resin or another material.
If an infection has moved deeper into your tooth, you may need a root canal to remove the nerve and save the rest of the tooth. A crown is placed on the remaining tooth to cover the hole. A missing tooth can be replaced by our dental team with a single tooth implant or a bridge.
Prevent Cavities Before They Start
There are ways to prevent a hole in a tooth from forming. If a cavity is caught early enough, it’s reversible. Visiting your dentist twice a year helps stop cavities before they start. At that time, your Stamford dentists explain steps you can take to prevent cavities from forming, such as:
- Drinking water with fluoride
- Using fluoridated toothpaste and mouthwash
- Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing every day
- Eating fewer sugar- and acid-rich foods
- Getting dental sealants, especially for children prone to cavities
Don’t wait until you need emergency dental care due to cavity pain before you seek treatment from your nearby dentist. Contact Stamford Dental Arts today to schedule your appointment for a thorough cleaning, digital x-rays, and pain-free examination.
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