Untreated cavities can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning. Untreated cavities can lead to abscess (a severe infection) under the gums which can spread to other parts of the body and have serious, and in rare cases fatal, results.
It can take as long as five years from the time a cavity begins to develop to when the tooth needs treatment to prevent the cavity from spreading further. For some people, though, that period can be as short as a few months.
An untreated cavity can have drastic results that can be so severe that they may even cause death. Cavities are a gateway to infection, which can spread fast the longer it goes untreated.
If your cavity hurts, it's not too late to save your tooth. When cavities are small, they tend not to hurt too much, but they'll start to cause pain as they grow. That's usually when you notice them.
It can, on average, take anywhere from six months to four or five years before a cavity requires treatment. The length of time it takes will vary on a case-by-case basis because the conditions of your mouth differ daily.
For all the good brushing does, it will not eliminate the cavity. The bottom line is you do not have the power to stop your cavity from growing. Your cavity will gradually expand to the point that it moves into the pulp chamber and spurs pain. If the cavity reaches the pulp of the tooth, it will require a root canal.
Usually, the recommended maximum amount of time between dental appointments is six months. However, your dentist in Fairfax may recommend that certain people visit more often, including those who are at higher risk of developing dental problems such as: Pregnant women.
If decay reaches the nerve of the tooth, the tooth becomes infected and the nerve of the tooth dies. Further treatment to the nerve of the tooth is then needed. So it is very important to have cavities filled in their early stages.
As we age, our teeth wear out and our gums can recede. These make our teeth more susceptible to cavities. Saliva production is decreased too because of several factors like lifestyle changes, dietary choices and even increased medicine intake. In fact, the majority of people over age 50 have tooth-root decay.
If a cavity is not drilled and filled in an early stage, bacteria can enter the pulp of the tooth, leading to infection and pain. This abscess, or collection of pus, can spread into the bone, making your whole body ill. Symptoms of decay include tooth sensitivity, pain when you bite or chew and dark spots on teeth.
The infection can lead to more serious, life-threatening infections. This is especially so if you have other underlying conditions. It can also result in gum disease. Tooth decay and gum disease can lead to heart and brain infections if progressed far enough.
Cavities tend to widen and deepen, making your teeth brittle and more prone to cracking or breaking. The further the decay progresses, the faster it reaches the tooth nerves, exposing them to the air. This causes a great deal of pain and tearing as the decay progresses and the nerve health is compromised.
It's actually not that uncommon. According to a 2018 survey cited by the American Dental Association, only 58% of the people polled saw a dentist once a year or, as the association recommends, every six months. That means that the other 42% haven't been to the dentist in years, or perhaps even longer.
If you haven't been to the dentist in over 10 years, it is likely that you will need to fill a cavity and/or take preventative action against gum disease.
Patients who neglect proper care of their mouths by not regularly seeing a dentist, risk not only getting tooth and gum disease, but they also risk getting diseases and illnesses in other parts of their body. Some major health conditions related to oral health include heart disease, diabetes, stroke and breast cancer.
Technically speaking, tooth decay can destroy enough of a tooth that it eventually falls out. Even if the tooth remains, though, it may need to be extracted if you wait long enough to treat the cavity.
Although different people heal at different speeds, according to the Oral Health Foundation, you'll most likely have tenderness and discomfort in the area of the extraction for a 1–3 days. You may experience tightness and stiffness to your jaw and joint because of keeping your mouth open during the procedure.
Although dark spots do not always indicate a cavity—they may just be surface stains—you have no real way of knowing. If you spy a black or brown spot on a tooth, your first course of action should be to schedule an appointment with a dentist.
Though good oral hygiene that includes brushing and flossing helps in preventing cavities, you may still get cavities. The reasons can be many, like the spaces between teeth that easily trap food, consuming too much cavity-causing foods and beverages, avoiding regular professional-level cleanings and checkups, etc.
What Does a Cavity Look Like? While it is usually difficult to see a cavity in its beginning stages, some cavities start with a whitish or chalky appearance on the enamel of your tooth. More serious cases can have a discolored brown or black color. However, most often there are no distinguishable red alerts.
Symptoms of tooth decay
tooth sensitivity – you may feel tenderness or pain when eating or drinking something hot, cold or sweet. grey, brown or black spots appearing on your teeth. bad breath. an unpleasant taste in your mouth.