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Posted on 11/25/2019 by Kevin Nail, DDS |
![]() Even if you are trying to maintain your oral health, you could still experience some decay in your teeth. Looking for early signs of tooth decay allows you to take steps to stop and maybe reverse the rot. The key is knowing what to look for. How Tooth Decay HappensIf you have teeth that are rotting, you are suffering from tooth decay. The enamel of the teeth protects the teeth from outside forces. Bacteria and acidic foods are two of the things that can eat away at the enamel. As the enamel erodes, small holes can open up and the bacteria and acidic foods can enter the next layer of the tooth. The more they grow, the bigger the holes in the teeth will become. The result if nothing is done is tooth rot. Left untreated the problems will spread to other teeth and the gums. Symptoms of Tooth DecayThe best way to avoid tooth decay and all its problems is to recognize the problem at the early stages and get treatment. Some of the things to watch for include brown, black or white stains on the surface of the teeth. Holes in the teeth and tooth sensitivity to hot and cold are other things to watch for. The worse the rot gets, the more obvious the signs will become. Many of them will involve pain in the tooth or around the tooth. Sharp pain when biting down and spontaneous pain with no apparent cause are signs of potential issues. There are things you can do to stop the rot and to prevent the rot. They involve following a good regular oral hygiene routine that includes regular visits to our office. Are you afraid that you may have a tooth that is beginning to rot? Contact our office and schedule an appointment to see what we can do to help! |