Cavities don’t just happen to kids who eat too many sweets. According to the CDC, 90% of adults aged 20 and older have had at least one cavity. Cavities are also considered by the CDC to be one of the nation’s greatest unmet health needs. This condition continues to be heavily prevalent throughout the country, with 52% of children aged 6-8 years old and 57% of adolescents aged 12-19 years old having at least one.

Rod W. Gore DDS emphasizes that cavities can happen to anyone, even adolescents and adults who feel they have good oral health habits. Often, they don’t know what a cavity looks like and may be unaware that they have it. Furthermore, they may be unaware of how long it takes for a cavity to form.

It’s essential to understand cavities, what causes them, and how they manifest so you can take preventative steps against them, keeping your teeth strong and healthy.

Defining Cavities and Tooth Decay

Cavities are permanently damaged areas found on the hard surface of your teeth. When bacteria, leftover food, and other foreign bodies build up on your teeth, a yellow substance called plaque forms on their surface. The bacteria that grow within plaque produce acids that slowly erode your teeth’s natural enamel.

If plaque is left untreated long enough, the acid eats through a substantial portion of your tooth enamel, leading to holes on the surface. Bacteria then penetrates these holes and progresses through the enamel’s layers, slowly eating away and dissolving the tooth from within.

The decay creates a hole within your tooth and eventually destroys it. It may also lead to more severe complications, such as infections and abscesses. The latter can be extremely painful as the infection will eat the nerve within your tooth. Moreover, bacteria could seep into the bloodstream, creating a life-threatening situation.

Where to Look for Cavities

Not all teeth are equally susceptible to tooth decay. Some will be more likely to develop it than others.

Keep an eye on the surfaces of your molars. These areas have the most contact with food and other items. As the teeth used to grind and chew, they are also more likely to get food stuck in the gaps between them or the grooves.

This is also why you should carefully assess the areas between your teeth and the bottom of the teeth near your gums. Again, this is where food collects and plaque builds up. When you’re brushing your teeth or flossing, pay particular attention to these areas and be on the lookout for signs of cavities.

Signs and Symptoms of Cavity Development

Heightened sensitivity to temperature changes

Cavities are not always easily visible. They may manifest as dark cracks or fractures, but your teeth would otherwise not appear to have any holes. However, one indicator of cavities is teeth sensitivity.

If hot or cold food gives you discomfort or pain, it may be a sign that your teeth have cavities. A hole or fissure in a tooth may expose the nerves within its pulp, resulting in sudden pain and sensitivity to hot and cold.

woman with toothache

Recurring toothaches

Another sign is when you have toothaches that occur more often and last longer than usual. This may mean that the bacteria has managed to penetrate the dentin and affect the nerve within your tooth.

As the bacteria infect and eat away at your tooth, it also necrotizes the nerve, causing ongoing and recurring pain. If allowed to continue untreated, the pain will worsen to a severity that affects your focus and may even result in a need to extract the tooth entirely.

Bleeding gums and facial swelling

Gum disease and bleeding gums are other major cavity symptoms. As the tooth becomes infected and continues to go untreated, it starts to affect your gums. Often, this symptom is accompanied by pain and facial swelling as your body tries to fight off the infection causing the cavity.

At this point, it’s crucial to see a dentist and resolve the infection before it worsens. It may also start affecting the rest of your teeth.

Pit or holes in your teeth

The most obvious symptom is when you find that your tooth enamel has become so fragile that it has cracked apart or developed a dark-colored pit. It may start as a stain or a dark spot on your tooth that gradually caves in or breaks apart to reveal the pit inside.

Pits like these can be resolved by a cavity-filling procedure at your dentist’s, which often involves using a sealant to fill and close the pit. It may not completely resolve all your cavity issues, however. This is why it’s crucial to get all your teeth checked, even those that don’t have pits or staining issues.

Preventative Measures

Many dentists advise maintaining good oral health habits to prevent cavities, but even daily brushing may not stop cavities. Therefore, it’s also essential to keep regular dental appointments for cleaning and oral checkups. This allows a dentist to regularly observe your teeth and clean them much more thoroughly than you would be able to at home.

It also ensures that dentists can detect any signs of cavities before they worsen. They may suggest measures to correct your cavities, such as dental sealants, fillers, pasta, or fluoride treatments. It will all depend on how far along your cavities are.

Consult with Dentists Regularly

Above all else, it’s crucial to see your dentist and determine your options. Your dentist knows your oral health better than anyone and can give you valuable insight into your teeth. If your dentist finds cavities or indicators that some are developing, they can give you an array of treatment options to give your teeth the best care and resolve the problems.

Rod W. Gore DDS has been working in the dental field for years and has treated many patients for cavities. We thoroughly encourage you to get your teeth checked for cavities regularly to maintain your oral health. Call us today to set up an appointment or see our available dental procedures.