It is caused by bacteria that produce acids capable of corroding the tooth, forming a small hole. The development of decay takes from a few weeks to several months, but the pain only appears when the «digging» approaches the pulp of the tooth, a sensitive set of nerves and blood vessels. The favorite «dish» of bacteria is refined sugar and, as the product has become a basic ingredient in modern food, cavities in recent centuries have become a real plague for humanity. “Until a few years ago, people already wore dentures at age 40. Only with the new treatments, it became possible to keep teeth for life”, says odontologist Pedro Duarte, from Universidade Paulista (Unip) and Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp). To avoid the problem, the most important tip is to brush your teeth at least twice a day, ideally cleaning after eating any food.
It is essential to pay special attention to brushing at night, as bacteria are more active at night, when salivation, which helps with cleaning, is less intense. Flossing is also essential, as it helps prevent tooth decay and prevent gum problems. Other than that, you need to visit the dentist at least twice a year to clean your mouth and apply fluoride. It is worth remembering that childhood is the most delicate phase for the formation of teeth. During this period, fluoride, which is present in tap water, is very important. On the other hand, it is good to avoid sweetening the bottle with sugar or giving honey to the child in the pacifier, which can cause “bottle caries”, which is painful and fulminant. Also in childhood, care must be taken with certain antibiotics, such as tetracycline, which harm the teeth.
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On the Internet:
https://www.portalodonto.com.br/prevencao.asp
https://www.howstuffworks.com/cavity.htm
Bacteria use food scraps as ammunition to dig holes
1. When good brushing is not done after meals, food remains accumulate in the teeth, serving as food for bacteria that live in the mouth, especially those of the Streptococcus mutans type. Foods with a lot of sugar and that stick to the teeth, such as cookies or chewing candies, are the favorite of these microscopic beings
2. When they find food in the mouth, bacteria multiply wildly. The mixture of such microorganisms with food remains forms the so-called bacterial plaque, a thin layer that leaves teeth with a yellowish tint.
3. After some time, the bacterial plate becomes more rigid, forming a layer that sticks to the tooth and does not come out with brushing. It’s the famous tartar, which usually appears next to the gum, the hardest region to clean. Tartar has nothing to do with cavities, but causes gum problems, which can lead to tooth loss.
4. What will produce decay is another by-product of bacterial action, an acid that erodes the enamel, the most resistant and superficial layer of the tooth, opening a small hole in the area. Most cavities appear on top of the teeth, where the grooves help hide and protect bacteria from daily brushing.
5. To deal with the problem, the dentist uses the dreaded drill. It helps to remove the part of the tooth affected by corrosion. After clearing the ground, the dentist fills the hole, usually with a tooth-colored resin.
6. If not treated in time, the enamel layer can be completely perforated, leading to caries in the dentin, the second layer of the tooth. There, the decay spreads quickly, as it is all perforated by small tubes, which facilitate bacterial action.
7. After making holes in the dentin, the cavity can reach the pulp, a set of nerves and blood vessels, and generate inflammation, when the pain becomes more intense. Inflammation can reach the root and form an abscess. Then the way is to do a canal treatment, which removes all the nerves from the root. If the problem continues, the solution may be to extract the tooth.