What Does a Cavity Look Like? (And Why You Shouldn’t Ignore That Tiny Spot)
Does that spot look like a cavity?
We all know we should brush our teeth and see the dentist regularly to keep our mouth, teeth, and gums healthy. And you might be doing all the right things only to be told you have a cavity. But what, exactly, is a cavity?
A cavity is a crevice or hole in your tooth that is caused by bacteria eating away at the tooth’s surface. A cavity can start as discoloration of the tooth, leaving either a white or dark spot. As tooth decay grows, it could leave an indentation or a hole in your tooth. Sometimes, you might not know you have a cavity until it is too late. If that’s the case, it’s time to visit the dental team at Sensation Smiles in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Our highly trained staff can help fix your tooth decay, and also give you pointers on how to present cavities from happening in the first place.
Early Signs of Tooth Decay
There are a few signs to look for if you think you might have a cavity. First, you might see white or chalky spots on your teeth. As cavities forms, demineralization happens. That means your tooth surface is losing minerals that help keep the teeth healthy and strong. Another sign of a cavity is tooth sensitivity. Because a tooth decay is essentially creating a hole in your tooth, it can become sensitive to temperatures and sweets. You may also experience mild discomfort when chewing because the cavity creates a weakened tooth structure.
What a Cavity Looks Like
As we mentioned, when tooth decay starts, you may notice a white or chalky spot on your tooth, due to demineralization. These spots can then turn into brown and black dots as the bacteria eat away at the tooth. If you notice that you can’t brush these slight discolorations spots away, you know you’re dealing with a cavity. As a cavity progresses, you may see a pit or indent in the tooth. In extreme cases, you may feel or even see a hole in your tooth where the cavity has formed.
Why That Tiny Spot Deserves Attention
If you think you may have a cavity, it is important to schedule a visit with the Sensational Smiles dental team, because tooth decay can’t fix itself. If you have a cavity, the Sensational Smiles team will need to remove the affected parts of the tooth that the cavity has invaded, and put a filling in its place. Cavities can spread to other teeth very quickly, so it is important to get tooth decay fixed as soon as you notice it. If you leave a cavity alone, it can lead to larger dental problems, like toothaches and infections, and you may need other dental procedures to fix it, like a root canal.
What To Do If You Spot Tooth Decay
If you notice you have tooth decay, you need to schedule an appointment at Sensational Smiles as soon as possible, so our team can decide on the best treatment for your situation. Treating a small cavity early means a less complicated treatment, which is easier and less expensive! Waiting to treat tooth decay gives it time to progress and causes bigger issues that can be more involved and expensive to treat.
While you are at our office for a visit, we will also perform a fluoride treatment. This is where a fluoride solution is applied to your teeth. Fluoride is a naturally occurring element that helps to fortify the enamel on your teeth to help prevent cavities. Think of it as an added protective layer for your tooth.
The Sensational Smiles team may also recommend you get a deep dental cleaning while you are at our office. A deep dental cleaning is actually two procedures, done at two separate appointments, called scaling and root planing. The scaling is a procedure that involves removing plaque and tartar buildup from the teeth, and from below the gumline. The second part of the procedure is the root planing, which is where your dentist will smooth the roots of the tooth to create a clean surface to reduce the inflammation and encourage the gum tissue to reattach.
Schedule a Visit to Sensational Smiles Today
If you notice the early signs of cavities, it is important to get it taken care of so it doesn’t spread and create other cavities. So if you notice slight tooth discoloration and tooth sensitivity, give our Sioux Falls office a call to schedule a dental appointment today so we can take care of that small cavity before it becomes a big problem.
