Cavities are permanently damaged areas in the hard surface of your teeth that develop into tiny openings or holes. Cavities, also called tooth decay or caries, are caused by a combination of factors, including bacteria in your mouth, frequent snacking, sipping sugary drinks and not cleaning your teeth well.
But the truth is that tooth decay and cavities describe two different things. Decay is a progressive tooth disease caused when enamel is compromised and the tooth is exposed to harmful oral bacteria. A cavity is the hole that forms in your tooth as the decay works its way through your tooth structure.
Tooth decay is the breakdown of tooth enamel. It can lead to holes in the teeth called cavities. Tooth decay is caused by bacteria in the mouth. These bacteria make a sticky substance called plaque that can eat away at a tooth's enamel.
Every Cavity Is Different. The time it takes for a cavity to form varies. 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.
Can tooth decay be reversed? Yes, if it is caught early. Tooth decay is only reversible in the beginning stages when it has only affected the enamel or the hard outer protective coating of the tooth.
If a Cavity Hurts, Is it too Late for the Dentist? If your cavity hurts, it's not too late for a dentist 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.
Depending on how heavy the damage, the tooth could die within a matter of days or even a couple of months.
Dental fillings are often adequate for a fix, but in cases of severe infection, they may not work. If you have extensive damage from bacteria, you may need a dental crown.
Use fluoride
Fluoride is a mineral that can prevent tooth decay from progressing. It can even reverse, or stop, early tooth decay.
In general, adults develop an average of three cavities during their lifetimes. This means that the average adult has three or four fillings in their mouth. Some patients end up with ten or more fillings depending on how well they care for their teeth.
When a cavity is just starting to form, you may be able to reverse it by brushing several times a day with a fluoride toothpaste. But if the cavity has grown and has been there for a while, the short answer is you really can't make it go away.
Tooth decay is damage to a tooth's surface, or enamel. It happens when bacteria in your mouth make acids that attack the enamel. Tooth decay can lead to cavities (dental caries), which are holes in your teeth. If tooth decay is not treated, it can cause pain, infection, and even tooth loss.
Treatments for tooth decay
You'll probably need a filling if you have a hole (cavity) in your tooth. If tooth decay has reached the soft tissue (pulp) in the middle of your tooth, you may need root canal treatment. Sometimes the affected tooth may need to be removed (extraction).
Your dentist drills away all the decayed area and enough of the rest of your tooth to ensure a good fit.
But as of yet, it's physically impossible. Once a tooth has a physical cavity (opening or hole) inside of it, there is no feasible way to help the enamel grow back on your own. Instead, the cavity will gradually worsen, due to the bacterial infection inside of the tooth structure.
Brushing alone is not enough
Most adult cavities form between the teeth. These are called interproximal cavities. When you allow food and bacteria to sit between the teeth, the bacteria will start eating away at your tooth enamel and the tooth itself, forming a cavity.
Not cleaning your teeth well, frequent snacking and sipping sugary drinks are the main culprits behind cavities. Cavities are permanently damaged areas in the hard surface of your teeth that develop into tiny openings or holes.
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.
The biggest factor a dentist looks at when deciding if a tooth can be saved is how much “good” tooth structure there is left. If the tooth is broken at the gumline and has a big cavity that goes down to the bone then there is little hope that the tooth can be saved.
If the deepest layers of the pulp become infected, it may be too late to save the tooth. In addition, if a large portion of the tooth is lost and a crown cannot be placed on what's left, root canal treatment is no longer a viable solution.
Cavities don't just form overnight; in reality, it can take a few months or even a year before the tooth decay advances to a point where the cavity will need attention.
If you get to the point where your tooth hurts all the time, you either have an advanced cavity or another, equally serious oral health issue. You need to see your dentist as soon as possible to diagnose the cause of pain so you can treat it and try to salvage your tooth.
Depending on how severe the problem is, the dentist will either perform a root canal or extract the tooth. The more you let a cavity untreated, the higher the risks of infection. Infection comes with increased pain, swelling, and other more serious problems.