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 A few hours after brushing, bacteria and food particles form plaque on the surface of your teeth. These bacteria produce an acid that erodes the calcium in the tooth’s enamel and leads to the formation of minute cavities. If left untreated, the acid will eventually eat through the tooth’s enamel, and begin eroding the dentin beneath it.Because the dentin is porous, it is eroded much faster than the overlaying enamel; so a large cavity could be forming inside the tooth without showing many visible signs.
As the decay continues, bacteria migrates through the porous dentin and infects the pulp. When your body launches an immune response to the infection, the blood vessels around the tooth enlarge and press against the nerves entering the tooth causing tooth-ache. If the infection proceeds and a significant amount of bacteria invades the pulp, then the tooth and nerve may die and an abscess may form. Tooth decay usually does not pose a serious health risk if treated early; however, if the decay is allowed to progress, the tooth will likely die, and the spreading infection may result in general blood poisoning, fever, swelling in the face and neck, and a general feeling of unwell. The best treatment is prevention. Through proper brushing, flossing and dental visits – the chances of significant dental decay are greatly reduced. |
