After the common cold, tooth decay is the second most common human problem worldwide. If this caries is not controlled and treated, it will gradually cause pain, discomfort, loss of teeth, and sometimes even damage to gum and bone tissue. About a quarter of children between 2 and 5 years old and half of children between 12 and 15 years old in society struggle with this problem. Adults are also more likely to face caries as they age.
Sometimes, you feel that your teeth are decaying very fast, and maybe they have a specific cause. This feeling of yours can be correct. In this article from drhealthandbeauty by Dr. Sanaz, we have examined 5 important categories of problems that will cause rapid and sudden tooth decay.
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A dentist or specialist detects signs of decay and tooth decay in the early stages with an examination. Also, to confirm his diagnosis, he takes help from radiology imaging. If the detected decay is left alone, it will lead to tooth decay in other stages.
The clearest sign of tooth decay is pain when drinking hot or cold liquids. Other symptoms of tooth decay are brown, gray, or black spots on the teeth, bad taste, or bad breath. The more severe the decay, the more exposed the tooth enamel and pulp area to decay.
Other signs of decay:
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Caries do not spread equally on all surfaces of the tooth. Therefore, some surfaces of the teeth experience decay due to the special conditions in which they are located.
Also, the grooves of the gnawing surface are common places of caries, which are considered a suitable environment for the growth and life of microbes. These are deep and narrow grooves that allow more microbes in this environment and cause premature decay.
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Tooth decay has different types and stages, which are as follows:
The first layer where decay occurs is the enamel. Enamel is considered to be one of the hardest substances in the body, part of which is made of minerals.
Therefore, if the teeth are in contact with acid created by plaque bacteria for a long period of time, they will gradually remove minerals.
Then, by removing these substances, white spots are seen on the teeth, which are the first signs of decay.
If tooth decay is not stopped, tooth enamel decay will spread. Also, the spots change to white and gradually change to brown.
Of course, due to the weakening of the enamel, small holes in the teeth have been obtained, which must be visited by a dentist to fill them with suitable materials.
One of the layers under the tooth enamel is the dentin, which is softer and more sensitive than the enamel.
Now, if tooth decay reaches the dentin layer, its progress will accelerate. Of course, having a number of tubes, ivory has access to the nerves of the tooth, and when it decays, it increases the sensitivity of the tooth.
For example, drinking or eating very hot and very cold foods causes discomfort and pain in a decayed tooth.
The first inner layer of the tooth is the dental pulp, which includes the hairs of blood vessels and nerves. Therefore, the nerves inside the dental pulp cause sensitivity.
Also, if the tooth pulp is damaged, it becomes swollen and inflamed. At this stage, the tissues around the dental pulp are not able to expand, and they put pressure on the nerves due to swelling. Then, the pain and discomfort intensify.
When the decay of the tooth extends to the inner layer of the pulp, bacteria in the mouth cause an infection, therefore, the increase in inflammation creates a bag full of pus (Pus), which in medical and popular language is the same as an abscess.
This pus bag causes severe dental pain, and its symptoms include inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck, fever, and swelling of the jaw and gums.
Of course, tooth abscesses must be treated very quickly. Because the infection easily spreads to the jawbones and other parts of the face or neck. In some cases, to treat the abscess, you have to pull the rotten tooth.
Although brushing with toothpaste is always ordered to ensure oral health. In fact, some toothpastes have a higher relative dentin wear (RDA) value.
If you notice dental problems after using a new toothpaste, your first option should be your toothpaste. Use toothpaste with an RDA value of 250 or less and the ADA seal of approval.
If you do not clean your teeth after every meal, plaque will form quickly, and the first stage of decay will occur.Therefore, brushing in time and in the correct way will be very useful.
Fluoride is a natural mineral that eliminates tooth decay and can even eliminate caries in the initial stages. Due to the benefits of fluoride, this substance is added to many urban water sources; It is also used in toothpaste and mouthwash. However, mineral water bottles usually do not contain fluoride.
Some people press the toothbrush on their teeth in order to clean all the surfaces of the teeth. This action will damage the tooth enamel as soon as possible.
Therefore, it is better to increase the duration of your brushing instead and apply the toothbrush with balanced pressure to the areas along the gum line and chewing surfaces.
You should know that there are some areas of the teeth that the toothbrush cannot clean, so it will be necessary to use dental floss to get rid of these damages and the formation of plaques.
Another point is that many bacteria lurk on your tongue, and besides causing bad breath, they can also spread to the teeth and rot them. Therefore, washing the tongue with a toothbrush or detergent will be a very good idea.
Related: “What Is The Cause Of Tooth Decay Despite Brushing? Demystifying“
Soft drinks contain very large amounts of sugar, citric acids, and phosphoric acid.
These are the things that make carbonated soft drinks and diet soft drinks, which are among the most harmful drinks for teeth and cause the loss of tooth enamel and quick rot loss.
Drinking soda or other acidic drinks during the day causes a continuous pool of acid to be produced in your mouth.
Unnatural and industrial fruit juices may also contain large amounts of sugar and preservatives that are harmful to the health of the teeth.
You can use industrial juices with low sugar content if you cannot use natural juices. When you regularly drink sugary drinks, you are actually giving the bacteria in your mouth the fuel they need to produce acids that attack and destroy teeth quickly.
Many people have a habit of drinking coffee at the beginning of the day, but it should be noted that coffee and its acid can cause darkening and damage to the teeth.
Alcoholic drinks and drinks that have high percentages of alcohol cause dryness in the mouth and prevent the secretion of saliva.
This process results in the destruction of the teeth and the loss of tooth enamel. Drinking alcohol, together with cigarettes, can destroy a person’s teeth in a short period of time and cause gum diseases and oral cancer.
Sweets and sugars are among the most harmful foods for dental health.
When you chew foods rich in sugar, such as chocolate, candy, and candies, the sugar in them remains between the teeth and is converted into acid by the bacteria in the mouth. As a result of this, teeth decay and tooth enamel is lost.
Therefore, brush your teeth after consuming candy and chocolate and make sure that there is no residue of these substances between the teeth.
Pastilles also contain a lot of sugar, like candies.
On the other hand, the stickiness of pastilles makes these substances last longer between the teeth, and it is not possible to remove them with saliva, so it is recommended to use a toothbrush and dental floss after consumption.
Snacks containing starch, such as chips, can be as effective as sugary substances in tooth decay.
If the starch in these snacks is not removed from the teeth, it is converted into acid by bacteria and causes tooth decay in short time. It is recommended, After consuming this type of snack, use sugar-free gums; these gums cause saliva secretion and clean the remaining substances from between the teeth.
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Anorexia and bulimia can lead to rapid erosion of most of the teeth and caries. Stomach acid resulting from repeated vomiting (cleansing) washes the teeth and causes the erosion of tooth enamel. Nutritional disorders can also disrupt saliva production.
By blocking histamine receptors, these drugs prevent and reduce saliva, resulting in dry mouth and increase the risk of tooth erosion and loss of enamel.
Anti-cough medicines, including syrups and anti-cough tablets, although they are prescribed by a doctor, they also have side effects. These medicines contain large amounts of sugar, which causes the sugary substances to turn into acid due to the platelets in the teeth. Moreover, it causes tooth decay and damage.
Smoking can be considered one of the most common and harmful factors in the health of teeth and people suffering from oral and dental diseases. Most of the harms of using tobacco in the health of your teeth are in the form of yellowing and, fast decay of teeth and loose teeth, gum diseases, and even mouth cancer.
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In many acute cases, tooth decay is a sign or warning sign of a bigger and more dangerous problem. In fact, there are common diseases that can lead to tooth decay.
In fact, the mouth acts as a window to the rest of the body, showing warning signs of what is going on in your body. Here are some diseases that cause tooth decay.
Redness, inflammation, and bleeding gums are very common symptoms of periodontitis. The bacteria in the mouth are the cause of this disease, which infect the tissues and cause dental plaque.
Diabetesaggravates periodontitis. Periodontitis also makes blood sugar control more difficult.
According to research, diabetes is an important factor in gingivitis. Gingivitis is a more severe type of periodontal disease, periodontitis, which damages soft tissues and even destroys tooth bones.
People with diabetes are 3 times more susceptible to gingivitis. Do not ignore multiple bleedings, gum inflammation, abscesses, or frequent infections in your mouth. Diabetes is not the only disease associated with periodontitis.
Periodontitis causes a harmful inflammatory reaction in the body that increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Not brushing your teeth is not the only cause of bad breath. In some cases, especially if you brush and floss regularly, bad breath can be a sign of a medical condition like acid reflux. You may not even know that you have this disease because acid reflux is usually a silent disease and occurs during sleep. But over time, the teeth wear down due to this disease.
Grindingor clenching your teeth can indicate that you are under nervous pressure. Over time, this weakens and damages your teeth, resulting in tooth pain and sensitivity. Finally, this wear may reach the dentin, which is under the tooth enamel.
The height of the teeth is shortened, and the temporomandibular joint is damaged. There is even a risk of broken teeth.
Painful mouth sores are also a sign of anxiety. Although the exact reason for mouth ulcers is not known, this problem is more common in anxious people.
Fortunately, despite being painful, these pests are benign.
If you have a dry mouth, it may be due to medications you are taking, but another possible cause is an autoimmune disease called Sjogren’s syndrome, which occurs more often in women over 40.
As a result of this disease, the body attacks the glands that produce the gloss of the mouth and tears of the eyes, causing dryness of the mouth and eyes, and as a result, the probability of tooth decay increases.
Although there is no definitive cure for this syndrome, there are ways to manage it that will help you restore some moisture to your eyes and mouth.
When dental fillings are not properly placed, there will be an opportunity for bacteria to accumulate in the grooves between the filling and the tooth, which is a perfect place for rapid tooth decay. Therefore, in addition to choosing a doctor carefully, you should also clean the area around the previous fillings properly.
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Tooth decay is usually characterized by blackening of teeth. However, the final diagnosis is possible with dental examinations. Symptoms of more advanced decay may include sensitivity, pain when eating, drinking hot or cold or sweet foods, spontaneous toothache, and pain when eating.
Mouthwash can be used to eliminate bad breath and decrease bacteria in the mouth. Mouthwash can also help fight conditions such as gum infection, dry mouth, and plaque build-up.
Considering that tooth decay is one of the most common oral and dental problems and reduces the quality of life and comfort of a person, for this reason, To prevent tooth decay, it is vital to follow oral and dental hygiene, proper nutrition, drink enough water, and using a toothbrush and oral antiseptic solution.
Also, periodic examination by a dentist and referral in case of any signs of tooth decay and timely treatment to prevent the further development of tooth decay are among the measures that can be taken to prevent tooth decay.
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Dr. Majid Zohrabi started treating his patients in Dubai in 2022 and continues his activities in private medical centers in the UAE.