LET us first examine what causes dental caries, also called tooth decay, cavities or rotten teeth. The biggest dental problem we face is plaque, which causes this condition. What is plaque? Plaque is a soft, sticky, colourless film made of germs that constantly forms on the surface of your teeth. It combines with sugar and starches to form acids that melt tooth enamel, resulting in cavities.
The first thing a physician or dentist learns during his training is the characteristics of normal organs. Studying diseased organs then becomes easy. Let us look at the most common tooth diseases and how they are treated.
What can you do to avoid tooth decay? You can do the following:
Brush your teeth thoroughly, carefully and regularly.
Floss at least once a day.
If you can, avoid sticky, sugary foods.
Visit your dentist for a check-up at least every three months.
Eat a balanced diet. In other words, use plenty of greens, milk, and fish or meat.
How would you know if you have cavities? The first sign of tooth decay is a change in colour at that spot. You may notice dark streaks on the biting surfaces or brown, chalky patches on the smooth surfaces. Instead of being intact, the spot may be soft or present a hole. Pain may or may not appear at this stage.
What should you do if you think that you have cavities? Act right away before it’s too late. See a dentist as soon as possible. Right now, 113 dentists are registered in Guyana, and nearly all are accessible. They may be able to fix the problem either permanently or temporarily. Perhaps what you thought was tooth decay may not be. Let the professional confirm it.
Plaque also causes tartar or calculus. What is calculus? Minerals in saliva combine with plaque and harden into a rough deposit called calculus. It is mostly mineral and provides a rough surface for more plaque to attach, making thorough plaque removal impossible. Your toothbrush and floss cannot remove calculus. Only regular prophylaxis (cleaning and polishing) performed by a trained person with adequate equipment and instruments can properly remove calculus.
Calculus is a major factor in tooth loss worldwide. How does this happen? It happens because calculus causes gum disease (also called periodontal disease).
When the hard, infected calculus penetrates beneath the gumline, it destroys the delicate fibres and tissues there. The supporting bone around the neck of the teeth is also absorbed because of the constant presence of germs and their toxins. The sick gum then swells and produces spongy tissue filled with blood vessels. These burst at the slightest pressure; hence, the typical “bleeding gums” seen during normal brushing. Eventually, pus may ooze around the teeth as a gingival abscess develops. If the situation becomes chronic, a dangerous outcome is likely.
Unfortunately, if the condition progresses to its worst stage, when the tooth loses strong support in the jawbone, the offending tooth or teeth must be extracted.
