Cavities are one of the most common dental problems that most of us deal with at some point in our lives. They cause pain and could also lead to serious complications necessitating professional treatment from a Calgary dentist if not treated. But have you ever asked whether cavities could be infectious?
Or can they flow from one person to another, like the cold? Now, let us try to answer these interesting questions and learn more about cavities—how they are formed and ways to prevent them.
What are Cavities?
Cavities, more popularly known as dental caries or tooth decay, are holes in your teeth resulting from the deposition of plaque, a sticky film of bacteria, on your teeth. These bacteria form acids that work at the hard outer layer at the top of your teeth while deteriorating your teeth inside and out.
Causes:
Poor Oral Hygiene: Failure to brush teeth regularly or flossing
Food and Drinks with High Content of Sugar: Taking too many sweets, cold drinks, or soft drinks
Dry Mouth: When there is no saliva to help clean the food particles and bacteria
Bacteria: The main bacteria are Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus
Symptoms:
Toothache or pain.
Sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods.
Holes or pits in your teeth visible to the naked eye.
Brown, black, or white discoloration on any surface of a tooth.
How are Cavities Treated?
If you have a cavity, you need to have it filled by a dentist right away to prevent further tooth decay. Some common treatments include:
Fillings: The dentist removes the decayed portion of your tooth and fills the hole with a special material.
Crowns: If cavities are large, the entire tooth may be covered with a cap.
Root Canals: In the presence of advanced decay that reaches the pulp, there may be a need for a root canal to eliminate the infected tissue.
Why Treat Cavities?
Cavity treatment is essential in preventing major dental issues, such as dental infections, lost teeth, periodontal disease, or cracked and broken teeth. Leaving a cavity untreated will cause you sharp pain, and you might need to undergo advanced dental procedures. If you discover a cavity unexpectedly, seek emergency dentistry in Calgary right away
Are Cavities Contagious?
While cavities themselves are not contagious, the same cannot be said about the bacteria that cause them. Actually, the most common type of bacteria causing tooth cavities can be passed from person to person.
How bacteria in your mouth cause cavities:
The bacteria in your mouth, specifically Streptococcus mutans, ferment food particles, especially sugar, in foods and drinks that you consume to produce acid.
How cavity-causing bacteria can spread through saliva:
Saliva is easily shared among bacteria, and some examples of this include:
Kissing: If you kiss someone, you are exchanging saliva along with the associated bacteria.
Utensil sharing: Sharing utensils like spoons, forks, or even drinking straws passes on these bacteria.
Cleaning of pacifiers by parents: When a parent cleans a baby’s pacifier in his mouth and then puts it inside the baby’s mouth, he passes the bacteria to the baby.
Factors that Affect the Transmission of Cavities
Oral Hygiene: Good oral hygiene reduces the amount of bacteria present in the mouth. This would also mean brushing and flossing regularly. Bad oral hygiene will lead to a greater flow of bacteria, increasing the chances of cavities.
Close Proximity and Sharing Habits: Children close enough to other people, especially children, can promote the transmission of bacteria responsible for tooth decay. Even shared foods, drinks, or utensils can cause an easy transfer.
Individual Cases of Transfer of Bacteria Between Parents and Children: It is normal to have bacteria passed from parent to child. Indeed, cavity-causing bacteria can be transferred from parent to child through an innocent peck on the cheek, sharing a drink, or even cleaning a pacifier in the mouth.
How to Prevent the Spread of Cavities
Following are some ways to prevent transferring cavity-causing bacteria:
Good oral hygiene:
Brush with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day.
Flossing once a day removes plaque from between the teeth, an area a toothbrush cannot reach.
Rinsing with anti-bacterial mouthwash will help kill bacteria and freshen your breath.
Good Oral Care. Make sure you see your dentist regularly for check-ups and cleanings to be sure cavities are detected early and that your teeth are nice and healthy.
Tips to reduce the risk of the spread of bacteria:
Keep utensils, straws, and beverages private.
Never suck your child’s pacifier to clean it.
Start practicing good oral hygiene with your children as early as possible.
General Tips to Help Combat Problems of Cavities in Children
How cavities might vary in children:
Cavities are common in kids due to the developing nature of their teeth, and most children tend to consume sugary food items and drinks frequently throughout their day. Due to this, it causes a lot of pain and discomfort while eating and speaking, and it may further lead to some other severe dental problems if not treated on time.
Some preventive measures for parents or caregivers are:
Brush your child’s teeth as soon as they come in. Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Limit sugary snacks and drinks. Take your child to the dentist regularly. Central to keeping healthy teeth and the struggle against tooth decay is an early dental care setup. Regular visits to the dentist facilitate monitoring the health of one’s teeth and allow problems to be easily detected early on.
Contact Inglewood Family Dental to Eliminate Your Mouth Cavities
Although cavities themselves are not contagious, the bacteria leading to their formation are. Good oral hygiene, therefore, requires proximity and sharing behaviour attention, together with frequent visits to a dentist at Inglewood Family Dental, to prevent such bacteria.
Following these measures, you will maintain good dental health. Remember that it all depends on how well you take care of your teeth today to define just how bright and healthy your smile is going to be tomorrow.