You probably know how a cavity feels. But do you know what it looks like in your mouth?

You may have heard that the physical symptoms of a cavity include a dull, throbbing toothache or sudden jolt of pain. Your tooth may also feel sensitive to hot and cold. But do you know what a cavity looks like?

Knowing the visible signs of a cavity can set you toward a treatment plan before complications arise. When tooth decay begins, you may not initially experience pain or sensitivity. But if you know how to identify a cavity based on its appearance, you can schedule a visit with an Espire dentist in Wyoming to get treatment and stop the decay from further damaging your tooth.

What causes a cavity, and what does it look like?

The bacteria in your mouth combine with sugar to form an acid that wears down the strong outer layer of enamel on your tooth. As the enamel thins, tooth decay burrows deep into the tooth. In fact, one of the first visible signs of a cavity is a pit, or hole, in the tooth. The tooth’s surface may also change color to black, brown, or white. If you spot those changes and are also experiencing pain and sensitivity, you likely have a cavity.

Sweet snacks and sugary sodas are the primary causes of cavities but are not the only culprits. Poor dental hygiene habits allow bacteria and plaque to grow on the teeth, which increases the chance of decay. In addition, those who suffer from dry mouth produce less saliva, and with less saliva to whisk away bacteria, the teeth are more vulnerable to cavities. 

Cavities are a common dental condition, particularly among young children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that one in four adults aged 20 to 64 have at least one cavity. The percentage rises to more than 50 percent among children aged six to eight.

Treating and preventing cavities

If caught early enough, a cavity may be reversed with fluoride treatment. The fluoride strengthens the enamel and prevents decay from spreading further into the tooth. For larger cavities, a filling made of tooth-colored composite resins, porcelain, or a dental amalgam fills the area where the decay was and makes the tooth whole.

If the decay reaches the inner pulp of the tooth, root canal treatment may be needed to stop an infection. If the tooth has significant decay, it may need to be extracted and replaced with an implant or bridge.

Treating a cavity as soon as possible is best to avoid those more extensive treatments. But better yet, prevent tooth decay from happening with these measures:

Clean your teeth daily. Brushing twice daily and flossing every night reduces plaque, the sticky substance that coats your teeth after eating sweet and starchy foods. When plaque isn’t removed, it leads to enamel erosion and tooth decay. 

Get more fluoride. Use fluoride toothpaste and drink fluoridated water. Bottled water doesn’t contain fluoride, but your tap water probably does. Rinse with a fluoride mouthwash. 

Limit sweets. As mentioned previously, sugar combines with bacteria to cause tooth decay, so avoid sticky, sugary foods and liquids. If you indulge occasionally, brush your teeth soon to remove the sugar before it can become plaque. On the other hand, when you eat fresh fruits and vegetables, you boost saliva flow and reduce the risk of decay.

Have a sealant applied to your teeth. A protective sealant applied to the surface of the back teeth, where cavities are a propensity to form, can cut down on tooth decay. The CDC recommends dental sealants for all school-age children.

Visit your dentist regularly. Although you may diligently brush and floss daily, your dental hygienist can clean your teeth more thoroughly than you can. Those twice-annual visits further serve as a window into your oral health. Your dentist can spot a cavity in its earliest stage and start treatment. 

Don’t ignore a cavity. Get treatment!

Schedule an appointment at Espire’s Cheyenne, WY, location today! Our highly trained dentists can spot a cavity and treat it as soon as possible. Don’t live near our Cheyenne, WY, office? Find one of our other locations near you.

Cheyenne, WY
7112 Commons Circle
Cheyenne, WY 82009