Bacteria in the mouth feed on sugars from eating and drinking. As they digest these sugars, they produce acids that attack the hard outer layers of the tooth. Over time, repeated acid exposure weakens enamel and deeper tooth layers, creating areas that are softer.If this process continues, the damaged areas can grow larger and deeper, eventually forming holes that trap more bacteria and food. These areas are harder to clean with brushing alone, which allows the cycle of acid damage to speed up. Sensitivity, pain, or visible dark spots may develop as the tooth becomes increasingly compromised.Without treatment, the damage can spread inward toward the nerve, leading to infection, abscess, or tooth loss. Regular brushing, fluoride, reduced sugar intake, and professional dental care can slow or stop the process by strengthening tooth structure and removing bacteria before significant damage occurs. In most cases, physically removing the damaged section of tooth is the definitive treatment.
Understanding
Caries
Clinical Significance
Can lead to deepening of caries over time, pain, tooth breakage, tooth loss
Common Causes
Bacteria feeding on sugars in the mouth
Signs & Symptoms
Possibly none, or sensitivity to cold, hot, sweets, broken tooth, discolored tooth
How It's Detected
Visually, x-rays, symptoms
Treatment Options
Filling, crown, root canal, extraction, no treatment
Benefits to Treatment
Stop or slowing of caries progression, smaller and less costly to treat early, tooth preservation
Prevention
Sealants, fluoride, oral hygiene, professional cleaning, early detection, diet modification, anti-microbial rinses (chlorhexidine)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know I have a cavity?
You often cannot detect cavities or other dental problems on your own without a professional exam or dental X-rays. Tooth decay (caries) frequently develops below the surface and may not cause symptoms until it becomes advanced. In many cases, cavities can progress for months or even years before causing pain or sensitivity. This means a lack of symptoms does not necessarily indicate healthy teeth. Regular dental checkups and imaging allow dentists to identify early decay and intervene before it leads to more extensive damage, infection, or costly treatment.
What are the typical treatments for a cavity?
The most common treatment for a cavity is a dental filling. Dentists typically use composite (tooth-colored) fillings or amalgam (metal) fillings to restore the tooth. During the procedure, the decayed or softened tooth structure is carefully removed, and the area is filled with a durable material to restore the tooth’s shape, strength, and function. If a cavity is large or deeply infected, more advanced treatments such as a dental crown, root canal therapy, or in severe cases, tooth extraction may be necessary. Early detection helps ensure simpler, less invasive cavity treatment options.
How do I prevent getting cavities?
Cavities form when bacteria in the mouth feed on sugars and they produce acids. Those acids literally melt tooth structure. Cavities are the melted areas of tooth. The best way to prevent cavities is to also prevent excess sugars from being in the mouth which feed the bacteria. A diet lower in sugar helps, but frequency of sugar exposure is more important than quantity of sugar. For example, eating 1 gram of sugar every hour for 12 hours is far more destructive than eating 12 grams of sugar in one sitting. Rinsing with water between meals is very helpful. Also brushing twice a day and flossing helps keep tooth surfaces clean and free of sugars that cause cavities. Sometimes, certain medical conditions like diabetes can lead to excess sugars in the mouth, and this should be discussed with a dentist and doctor for ideal management. Fluoride is a well-studied material that helps prevent and even reverse early caries. It also slows progression of existing caries. It can be used in multiple formats like rinses, toothpastes, pills, or varnishes.
Can cavities be healed?
Cavities can sometimes be healed, but only in the very early stages. When tooth decay is limited to early enamel demineralization (often called an incipient lesion), it may be possible to reverse the damage. Improving oral hygiene, reducing sugar intake, and using fluoride toothpaste or professional fluoride treatments can help remineralize and strengthen enamel. However, once the decay reaches in the inner portion of a tooth called dentin, it cannot heal on its own and will require a dental filling or other treatment. Early detection through regular dental exams and X-rays is key to stopping and reversing small cavities before they progress.