Tooth Decay
Uploaded by mumsa1 on Mar 15, 2012
Tooth decay generally develops as a result of a bacterial infection of your teeth. This is usually caused by poor oral hygiene.
In this article:
What is tooth decay?
Diagnosis
Advice & Support
Symptoms
Treatment
Causes
How Chemist Online can help
What is tooth decay?
Tooth decay is common throughout the UK with over half the population developing the condition at some point in their lives.
People of all ages can suffer from tooth decay, with signs of childhood decay being evident as people visit their dentist in adulthood. With the increasing popularity of fizzy drinks and other sugar-based products among Britain’s youth, it is perhaps not surprising that the vast majority of tooth decay sufferers are children or teenagers.
Symptoms
Symptoms of tooth decay include:
Toothache
Tooth sensitivity that makes you wince whenever you eat or drink something cold or hot
Holes and crevices in your teeth
Discoloured teeth, where tiny spots have developed as a result of the decay
Tooth abscesses
Mouth infection
Gum pain
Jaw ache
A build up of plaque or tartar around the upper and lower teeth
bad breath (halitosis)
Causes
Causes of tooth decay can include:
Poor oral hygiene
Smoking
A high carbohydrate diet
Eating too many sweet things
Drinking too many fizzy drinks
Passive smoking (the involuntary inhalation of smoke, when tobacco smoke permeates your environment) – this is often a cause of tooth decay in children and teenagers
Abnormally low production of saliva (usually due to taking prescribed medications)
GORD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
Diagnosis
A confirmed diagnosis of tooth decay will be made by your dentist through a physical examination of your mouth.
Treatment
Treatments for tooth decay can include:
Good oral hygiene advice with an emphasis on regular brushing of teeth with fluoride toothpaste, mouthwashing as part of your everyday routine, and flossing – to prevent a build-up of tartar and plaque and to flush out any trapped tiny morsels of food around your teeth and gums
Special fluoride treatments, such as: gels, foam or liquid solutions – to clean up the affected area(s)
Reparation of the damaged teeth through fillings and crowns
Root canal treatment – now a relatively painless procedure for getting to the core area of the tooth decay and replacing the pulp there with an artificial option
Tooth extraction – surgical removal of the offending tooth or teeth, and then the replacement of these with artificial implants
How Chemist Online can help
Through this website we have a range of dental care products available to buy, such as
Sensodyne ProNamel Daily Toothpaste which is specially formulated for people with sensitive teeth to help protect against acid wear...