Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptoms and DiagnosisWho Gets Cavities?PreventionTreatmentsAn Early Warning Sign for Tooth Decay
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Who Gets Cavities?
Prevention
Treatments
An Early Warning Sign for Tooth Decay
Acavityis a small hole in your tooth that occurs when the hard outer layer of the tooth, called enamel, is damaged. Although you might not notice a cavity forming at first, it can eventually cause pain. In more serious cases, a cavity can result in a dental procedure called aroot canal.
Cavities are acommon dental problem. In fact, about 91% of Americans over the age of 20 have experienced a cavity.However, with proper oral hygiene and regular dental visits, they’re often preventable.
Teeth are covered in a relatively thick layer of enamel, a protective coating. Enamel is made mostly from minerals—including calcium—which form hard crystals to protect the blood vessels and nerves in the tooth. Since enamel isn’t living, it’s not able to repair itself.
That’s problematic, since tooth enamel is constantly under attack. Your mouth is full of all sorts of bacteria, which are always forming plaque, a sticky film, on your teeth.When you eat foods that contain sugar, these bacteria produce acid that can damage your tooth enamel. Over time, that damage can lead to the formation of a cavity.
As your cavity grows deeper into your tooth, it could reach the sensitive blood vessels and nerves in your tooth. That’s when you’re likely to start experiencing symptoms. The symptoms of cavities include:
In America, almost everyone will get a cavity at some point in their lives. However, the people most at risk for cavities are people who are very young or people over 50.
Babies and young children who drink from bottles are at increased risk because their teeth are exposed to carbohydrates and sugar from bottles overnight.Persons who have teeth with deep grooves and crevices are also at risk.
On the other hand, older people are at risk because they more often havereceding gums. As the gum recedes, it can expose the root of the tooth, which is not covered in enamel, but a softer substance.This can make it easier for cavities to form.
In addition to those two demographics, there are other risk factors that can increase your likelihood of cavities. People with these conditions are at increased risk for tooth decay:
Although cavities are common, they’re also preventable. Taking these steps can help reduce your risk for cavities:
However, cavities often require other treatments to make sure that the damage to your tooth does not get worse. This includes:
Cavities are tricky to catch early since they don’t have symptoms. However, there is one early warning sign of tooth decay: White spots appearing on the tooth.These show the spots where minerals in the enamel—the main building blocks of this protective layer—have been depleted.
If you notice white spots, especially in children, you can speak with your dentist about how to prevent the spots from developing into cavities. Taking these steps may help:
What to Do When Your Child Has a Cavity
A Word From Verywell
You may feel ashamed if you get a cavity, but remember: Cavities are extremely common and nothing to be embarrassed about. The normal function of our mouths means that most of us will get cavities occasionally.
Finding out about a cavity early can help you avoid pain and keep treatment simpler. Going to the dentist every six months, even if you’re nervous, can help with that. Since oral health is linked to overall health, taking care of your teeth is an important part of taking care of yourself!
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
PR Newswire.American Dental Association statement: New CDC statistics show need for increased access to dental care, with a greater emphasis on preventing disease.
American Dental Association.Tooth.
National Institute of Dental Craniofacial Research.Tooth decay.
American Dental Association.Cavities.
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.The tooth decay process: How to reverse it and avoid a cavity.
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