I have no pain with my cavities, do I need to fix them?
Cavities don’t hurt, yet they do keep growing. In the end, cavities could lead to the need for a root canal or the removal of a tooth.
Most cavities do not have any pain or symptoms unless the cavity reaches the middle part of a tooth where the nerve resides. When that happens, a root canal is indicated as treatment. Root canals are more expensive than fixing a cavity with a dental filling. Most of the cavities dentists diagnose can be fixed with dental fillings and prevent the need for expensive work, like root canals or even removing the tooth and replacing it with a dental implant.
For example, fixing a cavity ranges around $100-$250
If the cavity enters the nerve space, the cost goes up with needing a root canal and a crown, and this treatment can average between $1500- $2500
If the cavity is too intense or leads to severe infection, the tooth may need ot be removed, and replacement options may cost between $2400-$5,000 or even more expensive.
Our mouth is full of millions of bacteria and all cavities will keep growing daily. Fixing cavities is the most practical and affordable way to prevent expensive treatment. And, fixing cavities improves our oral health, which can be a big confidence booster.
Can you reverse a cavity?
Yes, small cavities can be reversed but moderate to big cavities can not be reversed. If the cavity has reached the dentin, the cavity cannot be reversed.
How can small cavities be reversed?
Decay starts with a reduction in the enamel’s hard mineral content (this is called demineralization). Once the enamel is weakened enough, and the process moves into the softer dentin, just under the enamel, a hole can start to form, and you have a cavity.
The demineralization of enamel is a reversible process. Enamel can be remineralized if the chemical and pH conditions in the mouth allow the change.
How can you change the environment of your mouth to reverse small cavities and cavities from growing?
- Brushing twice a day -Mechanically removes millions of bacteria
- Flossing daily before going to bed -Prevents bacteria from multiplying between teeth.
- Eating foods with probiotics to deliver good, positive helpful bacteria to your mouth
- Avoiding a high sugar diet. as sugar feeds harmful bacteria and helps them to grow
- Drinking lots of water – Allows keeping your mouth moist preventing the rapid multiplication of bacteria
- Avoiding acidic drinks -This preserves your enamel and prevents harmful bacteria from multiplying.
What bacteria is located in my mouth?
Estimates of the number of bacterial species in the oral cavity vary between 500 to 650 different species. They live on the teeth and tongue, of course, but biofilms also cover the cheeks and oral mucosa.
The tooth under a microscope in the morning before brushing the teeth
Which supplements can you take to make teeth stronger? Are my teeth the same as bones and should I take the same supplements I take to keep my bones strong?
The teeth and bones are very similar in their structure, but the main difference is that teeth do not regenerate themselves as bones do. When there is trauma to a tooth via a cavity or dental work, the teeth will not regenerate. That’s why it is crucial to have strong teeth.
Vitamin D helps in the absorption of calcium and phosphate in the teeth and bones. Patients deficient in vitamin D are more prone to developing cavities.
Being in the sun is not enough to make vitamin D and to keep teeth strong.
4 Vitamins and Minerals That Help Strengthen Teeth
• Calcium. Calcium is one of the most important minerals for healthy teeth because it strengthens your enamel. …
• Vitamin D. Vitamin D is doubly important because not only does it boost mineral density, it also helps absorb, carry, and deposit calcium in the bones that support your teeth. …
• Phosphorus. …
• Vitamin A.
Learn more:
4 Vitamins and Minerals That Help Strengthen Teeth – Pronamel
Can I prevent the cavity from growing bigger under old dental work?
All dental work has its lifetime and old dental fillings can become cracked, allowing bacteria to sneak underneath and develop cavities. Those types of cavities can not be controlled and old dental work needs ot be replaced. Often those types of cavities can only be diagnosed by clinical examination of your dentist combine with taking X-rays.
The picture shows old composite, white fillings with cavities underneath them.
Some cavities under fillings can only be detected with X-rays to determine how deep those cavities and if they have reached the nerve space of teeth.
What happens if the cavity leads to an abscess, can it make me sick?
Any infection in the body is cause for alarm. An abscessed tooth represents a severe infection that is located in a part of your body that is uniquely located to spread its damage elsewhere. These are some of the potential consequences:
- Infected gums can damage the jaw bone and cause teeth to fall out.
- The infection can spread upwards and lead to a sinus infection.
- Bacteria from the infection can spread to the heart and lead to a condition called bacterial endocarditis.
- Abscessed teeth can cause an infection in the face and jaw called Ludwig’s angina which can severely restrict the airways.
- The infection can spread to the brain through blood vessels and lead to a brain abscess. In extreme cases, this can cause the patient to go into a coma.
An untreated abscess can also lead to something called sepsis, which is a complication of an infection that, in essence, poisons the bloodstream. So the answer to “can an abscessed tooth cause sepsis” is a clear “Yes!”
The picture shows a tooth abscess and how it looks in a month. Some abscess is seen only with an Xray.
Can cavities impact my overall health? Is there a relationship between cavities and my overall health, inflammatory markers? Cavities and mouth inflammation?
Mouth inflammation is the sum of conditions affected by your mouth microbiome, a balance of positive vs harmful micro-organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi in your mouth,
The overall score of those microorganisms can keep your mouth healthy or lead to dental problems. Tose organisms do have a direct effect on your overall health and can impact your overall health by creating inflammatory responses and impact those diseases:
- Heart and Arteries health
- Brain health: Dementia and Alzheimer’s
- Lunch conditions and health
- Joints Health
- Gi health
- Diabetes and many other systemic diseases
If the cavity gets big and the toot needs to be removed, should I replace the tooth?
Front teeth are important for esthetics and back teeth for chewing.
Our back teeth handle lots of pressure while chewing, and if one back tooth is missing, the extra pressure is applied to the remaining teeth making the remaining teeth more fragile and weak.
Fact: we use 160-200 lbs of force while chewing and we need back teeth to handle this chewing force.
Teeth prefer to touch each other and if one is missing, teeth move to close the space creating supereruption, the situation where teeth supeerupt and out of place.
What is the healthiest dental material to fix cavities?
The newer options for dental fillings include BPS free composites or glass ionomers, made of acrylic acids and fine glass powders. These new dental fillings can be colored to blend in with your nearby teeth.
Should you replace mercury dental fillings?
There is extraordinary evidence showing the release of Mercury in the form of vapor. This happens every time you stimulate the teeth. Examples may be drinking, eating, and brushing your teeth. Mercury vapors can easily pass through cell membranes, across the blood-brain barrier, and ultimately into your CNS (central nervous system). Once in the central nervous system, this is where psychological, immunological, and neurological problems can occur.
The most significant amount of exposure to mercury vapor from amalgam fillings is when they are placed and removed. Appropriate isolation and suction are also essential to help limit exposure to patients.
If you choose to replace your mercury fillings, find a dental office that understands how to remove those fillings safely.
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