Cavities, or tooth decay, are among the key dental health issues facing people globally. They mainly affect kids, older adults, and teenagers. However, anyone can get tooth cavities, including infants. Cavities are the damaged surface areas of your teeth which later form small holes or openings. Other names for cavities include caries or tooth decay.
When you do not treat your cavities, they begin to affect deeper layers of your teeth, leading to infections, tooth loss, and severe toothache. You should brush and floss your teeth regularly to protect yourself against cavities formation in your teeth. Cavities arise from various connecting factors which include the bacteria in your mouth, sipping and eating of sugary drinks, regular snacking, and poor oral hygiene. The following process explains how the cavity develops.
Plaque Formation
A dental plaque is a sticky film that coats your teeth due to eating sugars, starches, or improper oral hygiene. The formation of plaque starts when you do not clean off sugar or starch in your teeth. The bacteria in your mouth feed on them and cause plaque to form. When you do not clean your teeth, the plaque hardens above or below your gum line leading to the formation of tartar. The tartar creates a shield for the bacteria attacking your teeth.
Plaque Attack
The acids present in plaque begin to attack your tooth enamel causing erosion and tiny holes in it. This is the first stage of cavity formation. When the areas of your tooth enamel erode, the acid gets to the dentine layer. The layer is softer than your enamel and hardly resistant to plaque acid and bacteria. You begin to feel some sensitivity on your tooth at this point.
The pulp is the final area of a cavity attack. Your pulp hosts sensitive nerves and blood cells. Here the bacteria causes swelling and irritation. You begin to feel pain and discomfort when swelling expands and presses your nerves. At this point the formation of a cavity is complete. If you need further assistance on tooth cavities and their formation, contact our offices today!
Thank you for trusting us with your oral health. Give us a call at (650) 321-9693.
2875 Middlefield Rd, Suite #1 Palo Alto, CA 94306-2548
Cavities, or tooth decay, are among the key dental health issues facing people globally. They mainly affect kids, older adults, and teenagers. However, anyone can get tooth cavities, including infants. Cavities are the damaged surface areas of your teeth which later form small holes or openings. Other names for cavities include caries or tooth decay. 
