How to judge tooth decay
Dental caries, also known as dental caries, is a cavity formed by bacterial erosion on the tooth surface. If left untreated, cavities can lead to tooth pain, infection, and even tooth loss. So, how to tell if you have cavities? This article will combine the hot topics and hot content in the past 10 days to give you a detailed introduction to the method of judging tooth decay.
1. Common symptoms of tooth decay
The symptoms of tooth decay vary from person to person, but here are some common signs:
| Symptoms | Description |
|---|---|
| tooth sensitivity | Teeth feel tingling or uncomfortable when eating cold, hot, sweet or sour food. |
| toothache | Persistent or intermittent tooth pain, especially when chewing. |
| Black or brown spots on the tooth surface | Black or brown spots appearing on the tooth surface may be an early sign of dental caries. |
| There is a hole in the tooth | If there are small holes on the tooth surface visible to the naked eye, it may be that the tooth decay has developed to a certain extent. |
| Bad breath | Dental decay can lead to the growth of bacteria, causing bad breath. |
2. How to self-examine cavities
If you suspect you have cavities, you can do the following for a preliminary check:
| Check method | Operation steps |
|---|---|
| visual inspection | Use a mirror to carefully look at the surface of your teeth for black spots, brown spots, or holes. |
| Tactile inspection | Gently touch the tooth surface with your tongue or fingers to feel for any bumps or roughness. |
| sensitivity test | Try eating cold, hot, sweet, or sour foods to see if your teeth feel sensitive or painful. |
3. High-risk groups for tooth decay
The following groups of people are more likely to suffer from tooth decay and need special attention:
| high risk groups | Reason |
|---|---|
| children and teenagers | Teeth are not fully developed and eating habits are poor (such as a sweet tooth). |
| elderly | The teeth are severely worn, saliva secretion is reduced, and cleaning becomes more difficult. |
| People with poor oral hygiene | If you don’t brush your teeth thoroughly, plaque will accumulate. |
| diabetics | Poor blood sugar control can easily breed bacteria in the oral environment. |
4. Preventive measures for tooth decay
The key to preventing tooth decay is to maintain good oral hygiene and eating habits:
| Precautions | Specific methods |
|---|---|
| Brush your teeth correctly | Brush your teeth at least twice a day, using fluoride toothpaste, for at least 2 minutes each time. |
| floss | Floss between teeth every day to remove plaque. |
| Regular dental check-ups | Have an oral examination every 6 months to a year to detect tooth decay early. |
| control diet | Reduce sugar intake and avoid frequent snacking. |
| Use fluoride mouthwash | Fluoride mouthwash can strengthen teeth's ability to fight against cavities. |
5. Treatment methods for tooth decay
If cavities have appeared, you should seek medical treatment promptly. Common treatments include:
| Treatment | Applicable situations |
|---|---|
| Fillings | Before the dental pulp is damaged by tooth decay, the doctor will remove the decayed part and fill it with material. |
| root canal treatment | When tooth decay has damaged the dental pulp, the infected tissue needs to be removed and the root canal filled. |
| Tooth extraction | When tooth decay is too severe to be preserved, the affected tooth may need to be extracted. |
6. Summary
Dental caries is a common oral disease, but through early detection and prevention, its harm can be effectively avoided. If you find that you have symptoms of tooth decay, it is recommended to seek medical examination as soon as possible. At the same time, maintaining good oral hygiene habits is the key to preventing tooth decay.
I hope this article can help you better understand the diagnosis and prevention methods of tooth decay and protect your dental health!
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