Dental Implants Specialists in New York City Talk About the Most Common Causes of Tooth Loss, PART 2
Welcome back to our four-part article series on the common causes behind tooth loss in the United States. In our previous post, dental implants specialists in New York City discussed what goes on under the microscope in our mouths and that the underlying cause behind tooth loss is in fact unchecked bacterial activity. Without proper oral hygiene and regular attention from dental healthcare professionals, bacteria can cause cavities and endodontic infection, not to mention gum inflammation and infection. In this article, however, we shall focus on the former
Tooth Decay
Tooth decay is the process that leads to the formation of cavities (holes) in the dental enamel of your teeth. "Cavities constitute a breach in your tooth's most important line of defense against the elements and against the nasty pathogens that cause infection," explain dental implants specialists in New York City. "Should a cavity penetrate deep into the tooth structure and expose the pulp chamber, where all the nerves and blood vessels are housed, the tooth can become critically endangered and will likely require a root canal procedure or endodontic therapy in order to save it from terminal infection."
The acidic wastes produced by bacteria cause tooth decay. If you don't brush and floss frequently or thoroughly enough, these acidic wastes are given a chance to erode away the dental enamel covering your teeth, forming tiny pits. Over time, these pits deepen into holes, which provide excellent refuge for bacteria from your oral hygiene efforts.
The troublesome thing about cavities is that you don't tend to be aware of them until they have gotten deep enough to penetrate the pulp chamber, where all the delicate nerves are housed. At this stage, it's common for patients to experience localized pain and sensitivity, especially in response to pressure and temperature extremes. "Once bacteria have a pathway into the heart of the tooth, there is very little chance it will heal on its own," say dental implants specialists in New York City. "The hard, protective encasing of the tooth prevents it from pushing out or sloughing off the diseased tissue, as is often the case with infection in the rest of the body."
Tooth decay is best prevented with a good standard of oral hygiene and with frequent visits to your dental healthcare professional. If you do have any cavities, you will need to have them filled to prevent further damage to your teeth. If a cavity has indeed exposed the inner workings of a tooth, it is quite possible that you will require a root canal procedure to sterilize the tooth and prevent its eventual loss, not to mention all the pain that comes with having an infected tooth!
Tooth decay left untreated can quite easily necessitate the extraction of a tooth. But poor oral hygiene leads to oral conditions that are pervasive and affect every tooth in the mouth, not just one. In our next article post, we'll learn about the most common cause of tooth loss in the United States: periodontal or gum disease.
Stay Tuned for Part 3
To read about the common causes of tooth loss, stay tuned for the third installment of this four-part article series, courtesy of All On Four dental implants specialists.
Tooth Decay
Tooth decay is the process that leads to the formation of cavities (holes) in the dental enamel of your teeth. "Cavities constitute a breach in your tooth's most important line of defense against the elements and against the nasty pathogens that cause infection," explain dental implants specialists in New York City. "Should a cavity penetrate deep into the tooth structure and expose the pulp chamber, where all the nerves and blood vessels are housed, the tooth can become critically endangered and will likely require a root canal procedure or endodontic therapy in order to save it from terminal infection."
The acidic wastes produced by bacteria cause tooth decay. If you don't brush and floss frequently or thoroughly enough, these acidic wastes are given a chance to erode away the dental enamel covering your teeth, forming tiny pits. Over time, these pits deepen into holes, which provide excellent refuge for bacteria from your oral hygiene efforts.
The troublesome thing about cavities is that you don't tend to be aware of them until they have gotten deep enough to penetrate the pulp chamber, where all the delicate nerves are housed. At this stage, it's common for patients to experience localized pain and sensitivity, especially in response to pressure and temperature extremes. "Once bacteria have a pathway into the heart of the tooth, there is very little chance it will heal on its own," say dental implants specialists in New York City. "The hard, protective encasing of the tooth prevents it from pushing out or sloughing off the diseased tissue, as is often the case with infection in the rest of the body."
Tooth decay is best prevented with a good standard of oral hygiene and with frequent visits to your dental healthcare professional. If you do have any cavities, you will need to have them filled to prevent further damage to your teeth. If a cavity has indeed exposed the inner workings of a tooth, it is quite possible that you will require a root canal procedure to sterilize the tooth and prevent its eventual loss, not to mention all the pain that comes with having an infected tooth!
Tooth decay left untreated can quite easily necessitate the extraction of a tooth. But poor oral hygiene leads to oral conditions that are pervasive and affect every tooth in the mouth, not just one. In our next article post, we'll learn about the most common cause of tooth loss in the United States: periodontal or gum disease.
Stay Tuned for Part 3
To read about the common causes of tooth loss, stay tuned for the third installment of this four-part article series, courtesy of All On Four dental implants specialists.