Cavities that result from tooth decay don’t form overnight. There are stages of cavity formation that happen before you notice pain or that gaping hole in one of your teeth. This is why visiting your dentist is so important—they’re experts at spotting tooth decay before it has a chance to become a full-blown cavity!

Here are the stages of tooth decay that will form a cavity if left untreated.

Demineralization

Your enamel relies on minerals to stay strong. This is why certain nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D can help strengthen tooth enamel while harmful foods such as those that contain sugar will weaken tooth enamel.

In fact, tooth enamel is porous, so acidic substances can weaken tooth enamel for periods of time—this is why waiting for 30 minutes to brush after a meal is important.

When demineralization of the enamel happens, this means your enamel has lost some of its nutrients, such as calcium, and is now weakened by this as well as plaque. The enamel will wear away in a process called demineralization. Tooth decay is still preventable at this stage in the process.

Demineralization will often manifest as white areas on the teeth—don’t get this confused with dental fluorosis. These white spots may actually mean a cavity is on the way!

Enamel Damage

Now that the enamel has been demineralized, it will actually start to deteriorate. At this stage in the process, healthy minerals aren’t able to restore the enamel to its original state. The decay will continue without treatment, and you may see the white spot turn into a brownish area where the enamel is being eaten away by plaque, bacteria, and harmful acids.

During this stage, your cavity will be visible on an x-ray and your dentin will also become exposed, which can result in increased sensitivity and perhaps pain. A filling can treat your cavity at this point to protect the tooth from further damage.

Soft Tissue Damage

After the decay has eaten through the enamel, it’ll begin to affect the softer tissues of the tooth, such as your dentin and pulp. Dentin is the layer underneath your enamel. If the decay moves to this level, you may begin to experience pain and sensitivity and the only treatment that’ll remedy your tooth decay is a filling.

However, if your cavity is left untreated and continues to progress, it can eventually reach the pulp of your tooth. This is where all your nerve tissue lies and is essentially the heart of the tooth. If the decay reaches the pulp, an infection can quickly ensue and can cause a severe toothache as well as kill the nerve tissue inside the tooth.

If this happens, root canal therapy will likely be needed to save the tooth. Don’t wait to seek treatment if you suspect you have a cavity!

Visiting your dentist regularly can help you prevent tooth decay and catch your cavity in the demineralization process. Cavities are painful and often irreversible without a filling, so don’t wait to have your teeth checked out by a professional dentist!

The post What Are the Stages of Tooth Decay? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

So do porcelain veneers actually increase tooth sensitivity? Here’s everything you need to know
about veneers when it comes to temperature sensitivity for your pearly whites!

Temporary Tooth Sensitivity

Many people experience temporary tooth sensitivity after they get their new dental veneers.
This is on account of the tiny amount of enamel removed. Anywhere from a few days to a few
weeks is normal to experience mild tooth sensitivity after your new porcelain veneers are
placed. Not everyone will experience this type of sensitivity after getting their veneers.

However, if you continue to experience tooth sensitivity past two or three months, or if you’re
experiencing severe tooth sensitivity, call your dentist. This type of persistent or severe
sensitivity could be indicative of a bigger problem with your veneers, or they may not have
bonded correctly to your teeth. It’s important that you get it checked out to alleviate the
problem.

Possible Help for Tooth Sensitivity

If your tooth enamel has been compromised, it’s possible that porcelain veneers may actually
be able to help alleviate your tooth sensitivity. This is because dental veneers cover the teeth
and are permanently bonded to the teeth, making it impossible for hot or cold foods to reach
the damaged tooth enamel.

Your dentist can help you determine if you’re a candidate for dental veneers based on your
enamel loss. If you’re missing too much enamel, your dentist may not be able to properly bond
the veneers and therefore you may not be a candidate. Whether or not veneers can help your
tooth sensitivity will depend on your unique smile!

Should You Get Veneers?

Veneers can help with a variety of cosmetic dental issues. They can cover up severely stained
teeth that don’t respond to professional whitening treatments. They can cover gaps, pointy
teeth, or minor alignment problems. People turn to dental veneers for all kinds of reasons, but
most importantly because they provide people with a brand-new smile!

Whether or not you’re a candidate for dental veneers will depend on numerous factors. A
professional dentist can help you determine the pros and cons of getting veneers for your
smile. Your dentist can also answer any more questions you may have about veneers in regards
to tooth sensitivity. Although not everyone will experience tooth sensitivity after getting their
new veneers, many people experience at least mild sensitivity for a few days.

Are you considering dental veneers for your smile? Although dental veneers have the potential
to cause temporary tooth sensitivity, they also have the potential to correct severe tooth
sensitivity in the proper candidates. To discover if veneers could be the smile solution you’ve
been looking for, schedule an appointment with your dentist today!

The post Do Dental Veneers Increase Tooth Sensitivity? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Does laser teeth whitening damage teeth at all? Here’s what you should know about the procedure.

Uses Low Heat Methods

When you take advantage of laser teeth whitening from brands such as Zoom, low heat methods are used to avoid damaging your teeth. The heat is needed to accelerate the whitening process but is low enough that it doesn’t damage your teeth. Heat also means the solution doesn’t stay on your teeth for longer than it needs to, therefore minimizing any side effects. Higher levels of heat can cause some patients discomfort after the procedure. Fortunately, Zoom is widely used by dentists and has been shown to be a safe, effective procedure for whitening teeth. A professional cleaning is recommended beforehand to remove surface stains and reveal your true smile. This way, your dentist will be better able to whiten your teeth completely and accurately remove stains.

Protective Measures for Your Smile

Laser teeth whitening is safe because your dentist will take protective measures for your smile before and during the procedure. Before the bleaching solution is applied, your lips, gums, and inner oral tissues are fully protected. Your dentist will do this by using rubber dams over your gum tissue and retractors for your cheeks.

Finding a dentist who’s experienced and skilled at teeth whitening can help. Proper protective measures and accurate application of the whitening solution can help perfect your smile. Keeping your teeth safe during the procedure is important to prevent any side effects from the procedure.

Side Effects

The good news is that the only side effect of Zoom laser teeth whitening is mild tooth
sensitivity, which normally resolves itself after a few days. Your dentist can talk with you about what to expect and how to treat it. Usually, de-sensitizing toothpaste can help in the first few days after the procedure.

Sensitivity does not occur in all patients. It’s important to have your smile evaluated for the laser whitening procedure before it happens. Your dentist will ensure your smile is healthy and able to tolerate the whitening beforehand. If you already have sensitive teeth, talk to your dentist about how you can get a white smile without increasing tooth sensitivity.

Zoom laser teeth whitening is the professional, safe way to whiten teeth. There’s no tooth damage done and any sensitivity that results typically goes away shortly. Your dentist will take every measure possible to protect your smile during the procedure to make your teeth a beautiful shade of white afterwards. Happy smiling!

The post Does Laser Teeth Whitening Damage Teeth? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

You May Be Brushing too Hard

Let’s set the record straight— harder brushing does not equal better brushing. In fact, harder brushing can do much more damage than good. Hard brushing over time can actually wear down the enamel (the protective hard white part) of your tooth over time, therefore leading your tooth to be largely unprotected in the face of cold iced tea or hot spicy curry. After the enamel gets worn down, it exposes dentin, a soft substance that helps sustain the tooth. The dentin is linked directly to the nerve of your
tooth, and here is where your sensitivity happens. Hard brushing is also bad news for your gums—it can cause gum recession, further exposing the dentin. Proper brushing involves gentler brush strokes.

You May be Grinding Your Teeth

People who grind their teeth are generally not aware of the fact that they are doing it. It can happen in our sleep, when we’re blissfully unaware of the grinding taking place. The ligaments that connect the tooth to your jaw can get inflamed when you grind, as you are putting an excessive amount of force on your jaw. Your nerve then gets aggravated and makes your mouth more affected by extreme temperatures. Clenching and grinding your teeth is not healthy, and you may not even be aware that you’re doing it. Seeing your dentist can help to determine if you’re a grinder and if so, what you can do about it. Your tooth sensitivity may be a result of a clenched or grinding action that can be bad news for your whole mouth!

You May Have Tooth Decay or Gum Disease

Tooth sensitivity can affect one tooth or several—regardless of how extreme your tooth sensitivity is, it could be pointing at a larger issue. Tooth sensitivity may be the result of tooth decay or gum disease. If these problems go untreated while you’re buying sensitive toothpastes and overlooking the issue, your problem could get a lot worse without you even knowing it. The longer you wait to address your sensitivity, the more costly the solution could be. Visit your dentist to find out if you may be experiencing symptoms of gum disease or tooth decay.

Don’t just accept your sensitivity as part of your mouth health—a healthy mouth should not be painful. Instead of buying products that only mask the issue, visit your dentist to make sure your mouth is healthy. Your tooth sensitivity may be trying to tell you that you’re brushing too hard, grinding your teeth, or have a more serious issue such as tooth decay or gum disease going on.

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