How is tooth decay caused




















This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. If you don't have enough calcium in your diet, your bones will eventually become weak and brittle.

Most cleft palates and cleft lips can be repaired so that appearance and speech develop normally. Cold sores are blisters around the mouth and nose, caused by the herpes simplex virus. Discoloured, chipped or missing teeth can affect self-confidence but cosmetic dentistry techniques can help. Dental anxiety is common, but there are ways to help you manage it.

Talk to your dentist about which strategies are right for you. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional.

The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances.

The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Skip to main content. Mouth and teeth. Home Mouth and teeth. Tooth decay. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet.

On this page. What is tooth decay? Baby teeth are temporary but important. Most cavities take several months or years to form. However, multiple factors can influence how quickly tooth decay progresses, including oral hygiene,.

The idea of tooth worms is an ancient myth. Here's why so many different ancient people believed they existed and how they treated cavities. Cavity symptoms or signs of tooth decay can include sensitivity to heat, cold, or sweet foods.

You may also have tooth pain or notice discoloration…. Recent research finds that prenatal exposure to "optimal" levels of fluoride in drinking water is strongly associated with reduced IQ when those….

Fluoride toothpaste is recommended by most dentists. But some people also have concerns about its safety. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Tooth Cavities. Symptoms of tooth cavities. Causes of tooth cavities. Treatment options for tooth cavities. Complications from tooth cavities. Preventing tooth cavities. Read this next. How to Get Rid of Cavities. The 8 Worst Foods for Your Teeth.

Page last reviewed: 02 April Next review due: 02 April Tooth decay. Symptoms of tooth decay Tooth decay may not cause any pain. But if you have dental caries, you might have: toothache — either continuous pain keeping you awake, or occasional sharp pain without an obvious cause; it can sometimes be painless tooth sensitivity — you may feel tenderness or pain when eating or drinking something hot, cold or sweet grey, brown or black spots appearing on your teeth bad breath an unpleasant taste in your mouth Seeing a dentist Visit your dentist regularly so early tooth decay can be treated as soon as possible and the prevention of further decay can begin.

Tooth decay is much easier and cheaper to treat in its early stages. Find your nearest dentist It's also important to have regular dental check-ups. Read more on: how to find an NHS dentist what to expect when you visit your dentist getting over a fear of the dentist Treatments for tooth decay Early-stage tooth decay Early-stage tooth decay, which is before a hole or cavity has formed in the tooth, can be reversed by: reducing how much and how frequently you have sugary foods and drinks brushing your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste Your dentist may apply a fluoride gel or fluoride paste to the affected tooth.

Fluoride helps to protect teeth by strengthening the enamel, making teeth more resistant to the acids from plaque that can cause tooth decay Treatments for holes in teeth When there's a hole in the tooth, treatment may include: a filling or crown — this involves removing the dental decay and filling the hole or covering the tooth read about what NHS fillings and crowns are made of root canal treatment — this may be needed to remove tooth decay that's spread to the centre of the tooth where the blood and nerves are the pulp removing all or part of the tooth — this is usually advised when the tooth is badly damaged and cannot be restored; your dentist may be able to replace the tooth with a partial denture , bridge or implant Cost of NHS treatment NHS charges are set by the government and are standard for all NHS patients.

Financial help may also be available to those on a low income. Read more about: NHS dental charges getting help with dental charges The cost of private dental treatment varies between practices, as there's no set charge. If you choose to see a private dentist, make sure to agree the cost before having treatment.

Preventing tooth decay in adults Although tooth decay is a common problem, it's often entirely preventable.

Regular visits to the dentist at an early age should also be encouraged.



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