Cavities are bad news for your mouth. Most people learn this in elementary school. Despite that, not everyone knows what a cavity actually is. Because of lack of information, they tend to ask, “What does a cavity look like?”
WHAT IS A CAVITY?
In short, a cavity is a small hole in a tooth that forms because of tooth decay. It’s possible to have more than one cavity in a single tooth. Cavities can also form anywhere on the teeth.
WHAT DOES A CAVITY LOOK LIKE?
So – what DOES a cavity look like? Cavities vary greatly in appearance. In general, however, they appear as small holes, chips or dark spots on teeth. The holes can be as small as dots or as large as the entire tooth. Sometimes they look brown, yellow or black.
Keep in mind that not all cavities are big enough for people to see with the naked eye. Instead, dentists have to take x-rays to find small cavities. Just because you can’t see a cavity doesn’t mean that it isn’t there or that it doesn’t hurt.
HOW DO CAVITIES FORM?
Now that you know what cavities look like, you need to know a bit about how they form. The process starts when acid wears down the protective coating or enamel on teeth. The more frequently that teeth deal with acid, the quicker cavities form.
For example, foods or drinks that contain starches or sugars can cause cavities. Over time, the acid breaks down the enamel around the teeth and white spots start to appear. These white spots mean that the tooth has lost a significant about of protective minerals.
Thankfully, people can stop and even reverse tooth decay at this point. The enamel can repair itself using minerals in saliva and fluoride. However, cavities are permanent damage. If you get a cavity, it’s necessary to go to the dentist to deal with it.
THE WAR GOING ON IN YOUR MOUTH
Inside the mouth, there’s a bunch of bacteria. Some of it’s good, but some isn’t. Tooth decay comes from bacteria that uses sugar as food. The byproduct that the bacteria creates from eating this sugar is acid.
On one side of the war are bad bacteria and sugar. When you eat sugary snacks, it helps the bacteria win the war.
On the other side are saliva and fluoride. The saliva contains calcium and phosphate which helps strengthen enamel. Toothpaste, water, and fluoride rinse all contain fluoride, which replaces minerals that teeth lose during acid attacks.
The mouth goes through this tug of war all day. Sugary foods break down the minerals in the teeth, and saliva and fluoride help rebuild them.
LET US FILL YOUR CAVITIES
Sometimes, the bad side wins a battle or two against saliva and fluoride. When that happens, cavities start to form in the mouth. At Arc Dental, we fill your cavities. We also offer other services such as:
- Teeth whitening
- Invisalign
- Veneers
- Dental Bridges
- Implant restoration
Need a cavity filling in Mississauga, ON? Trust your teeth to a dentist who puts the needs of your family first. Contact us at (905) 997-4272 for more information.
