Dental patients could develop cavities for various reasons, and the cavities could become painful and uncomfortable. They are most common during childhood and adolescence. Still, older patients can develop cavities because of the medication they take for a chronic condition. A review of cavities shows the patient what to expect.

What Patients Should Know About Cavities

Dental patients could develop cavities for various reasons, and the cavities could become painful and uncomfortable. They are most common during childhood and adolescence. Still, older patients can develop cavities because of the medication they take for a chronic condition. A review of cavities shows the patient what to expect.

What Are Cavities?

Dental patients may ask, “what is a tooth cavity?” A cavity is a hole that forms in the tooth after the tooth enamel has become damaged. In the hole is tooth decay that can spread until it reaches the pulp and nerve. If the cavity isn’t corrected, the tooth decay will advance to surrounding teeth.

What Are The Causes of Dental Cavities?

The common causes of a dental cavity include higher-than-average consumption of acidic or sweet foods and beverages. In addition, the patients will have a high-fat diet, consume too many sweets each day, and have poor oral hygiene. Patients who do not brush and floss their teeth twice daily are at a greater risk of developing a dental cavity.

Patients that grind their teeth when sleeping are at risk of developing a tooth cavity because of tooth damage. If they grind their teeth, the patients will need to undergo a dental examination to find any tooth damage.

Overcrowding of the teeth can lead to cavities, too. It isn’t easy to brush and floss effectively if the teeth are too close together. In addition, overcrowding prevents the patient from removing all the plaque and bacteria from their teeth and decreasing the risk of cavities.

What Are The Types of Dental Cavities?

The types of cavities include smooth surface, pit and fissure decay, and root decay. Smooth surface cavities are white spots found on the teeth. Since they haven’t dissolved the tooth enamel, they can be stopped by brushing the teeth twice a day. The most common location of these cavities is between the teeth. These cavities are caused by irregular brushing or using tobacco products.

Pit and fissure decay cavities are found on the top portion of the chewing surface of each tooth. Therefore, it is essential to use dental bonding to repair the tooth and prevent the decay from spreading when discovered.

Root decay is common among patients with existing periodontal disease and receding gums. In addition, the patients may have gingivitis that has caused the gum recession, and the exposure to acidic foods and plaque build-up causes the tooth to rot. Therefore, at the first sign of a dental cavity, the patient must set up an appointment with their dentist.

What Are The Signs of Cavities?

The signs of a dental cavity start with bad breath and a foul taste in the mouth. The patient may have bleeding gums and existing periodontal disease. If the cavity has developed an infection, the patient may have facial swelling. In addition, they will experience pain, discomfort, and tooth sensitivity. The patient may also have redness in or around their mouth. Dental cavity pain is usually the first sign that patients notice.

How Are Cavities Treated?

To treat a dental cavity, first, the dentist must determine what kind of cavity the patient has. If they have a smooth surface cavity, the patient must start brushing their teeth more often and avoid further damage. If they have pit and fissure decay, the dentists perform dental bonding or fillings. With root decay, the patient will need a root canal.

Dental patients can develop cavities for a variety of reasons, including their diet and improper hygiene. If they develop a cavity, the patient needs to get fast dental repairs. Patients can learn more about the cavities by visiting their dental professional now.

Toothaches can be annoying, or they can be incredibly painful. So naturally, most people want to alleviate that pain as quickly as possible, but it’s not always possible to get a same-day dental appointment. While visiting a dentist for professional treatment is the only way to permanently get rid of tooth pain, there are a few things patients can try while waiting for appointments. Read on to find out what can help with tooth pain.

Rinse With Salt Water

Saltwater rinses are a great first line of defense against tooth pain. The salt acts as a natural disinfectant, which can help to heal any soft tissue wounds and reduce inflammation in the affected area. The saltwater may also help to loosen up food particles or debris stuck in or between teeth that are contributing to tooth pain.

Hydrogen Peroxide Rinses

Like saltwater rinses, hydrogen peroxide rinses can help to relieve inflammation and disinfect the mouth. Unlike salt, hydrogen peroxide has also been shown to reduce plaque along the gum line and alleviate bleeding. To make a hydrogen peroxide rinse at home, mix 3-percent peroxide with an equal amount of water and use it as a mouthwash as needed, being careful not to swallow.

Ice and Cold Compresses

Cold compresses or ice packs can relieve pain almost anywhere, including the mouth. Applying cold to any area causes the blood vessels to constrict, making the pain less severe and reducing swelling. Just make sure to wrap the bag of ice or cold compress in a towel to avoid tissue damage and don’t leave the compress in place for more than 20 minutes at a time.

Clove Oil

Clove oil is available in most grocery stores and it’s great at alleviating tooth pain. Soak a cotton ball in it and use it to rub the clove oil directly on the affected area. Some research suggests that clove oil is as effective as over-the-counter benzocaine at reducing oral pain, so even people who aren’t usually into natural remedies should give this one a shot.

OTC Anesthetics

Anesthetics are pain-relieving gels or liquids that can be applied directly to sore teeth and gums. These products contain benzocaine, which acts as a numbing agent. They’re safe to use while waiting for a dentist’s appointment, but don’t plan to use OTC anesthetics long-term.

OTC Pain Relievers

While dental patients are at the pharmacy looking for anesthetics, it’s worth picking up OTC pain relievers. Ibuprofen and naproxen are good options for adults, while acetaminophen is a better one for children.

It’s relevant to note here that it’s a myth that placing aspirin directly against the teeth or gums helps to numb the pain faster. In fact, this technique does not work and can harm the tissues inside of the mouth.

Garlic Paste

Garlic has long been recognized for its antibacterial properties, but not everyone realizes that it can also be used as a natural pain reliever. To use garlic as a home remedy for a toothache, crush up a clove until it’s the consistency of a paste, then add a little salt and apply it directly to the affected area. Slowly chewing a clove of garlic can also help.

There’s No Replacement for Visiting a Dentist

While there are plenty of things to help tooth pain at home in the short term, none of them should be considered a viable long-term alternative to visiting a dentist. There’s a reason the tooth hurts, and managing only the symptoms means that the underlying cause will go untreated. A dentist can perform a thorough exam, identify the underlying cause of a patient’s tooth pain, then treat the issue to alleviate it permanently.