You probably know that there are a number of things you can do to keep your teeth healthy and strong. Naturally, you’ll need to brush and floss to avoid cavities, but do you know how cavities actually form? Finally, would you be surprised to hear that there are a few things you could do to reverse cavities?
After you eat, plaque will form on your teeth. If you don’t remove plaque—typically by brushing and flossing—it could harden into tartar. Once tartar forms, your enamel might be damaged. Your enamel is the outer layer of your teeth. If you notice white spots forming on your enamel, a cavity could be forming. Fortunately, if you visit a dentist during this stage, we’ll be able to help you reverse your decay. However, if the issue isn’t addressed at this stage, your cavity will need to be addressed with a filling. If you notice a dark spot on your teeth, you could have this stage of decay.
Sadly, once your cavity has broken through your enamel, it can move to the next layer of your teeth, known as dentin. As you may have guessed, the decay can continue to spread until it reaches the center of your tooth. If this happens, you could need root canal therapy to address the problem. If you choose to not have root canal therapy, your tooth could die. Similarly, you could lose the afflicted tooth.
Again, keeping your teeth healthy and strong may be enough to help you avoid this problem. If you’re interested in learning more about dealing with a cavity in Stockton, California, or in scheduling an appointment with our dentist, Dr. Lavanya Gill, please don’t hesitate to give Country Club Dental a call at 209-466-1043. We’re eager to receive your call.