Do Cavities Spread?
Can a cavity spread to another tooth? We’re here to help you learn more about this dental problem. To maintain a healthy smile, it is important to educate yourself about the risks associated with cavities and tooth decay.
What are Cavities?
Cavities are small holes that are created by plaque. Consuming sugary foods enables bacteria in plaque to use these sugars to create an acid byproduct. This acid can ruin your tooth’s enamel. Unfortunately, your enamel cannot repair itself so a cavity will form.
The After-Effect
If one tooth has a cavity, does that mean all your other teeth are in jeopardy? Well, not exactly. Just because you have one infected tooth doesn’t mean the adjacent teeth will automatically have holes. However, having active decay creates an environment for teeth to be more susceptible to cavities. It’s easier for bacteria to stay stuck in cavities and therefore remain in your mouth longer and affect your gums and teeth.
It is crucial to treat cavities early on since they can spread to deeper parts of a tooth – even reaching inner nerves. If it has come to this, you’ll experience pain and potentially an infection. The entire tooth structure will weaken and be prone to chips, cracks, and developing new cavities.
Keep Cavities from Spreading
Early intervention is crucial in stopping the spread. For smaller cavities, dentists can fill them which is a quick and noninvasive procedure. If you put off your dental visit, the cavity can lead to a bigger issue. To resolve it, you may have to pay for costly treatments such as a root canal or crown.
Don’t forget to brush twice a day and floss daily and make sure to moderate your sugar intake. Doing these things will reduce your likelihood of forming cavities. Lastly, don’t skip your routine dental visits! These are essential for your oral health and they allow your dentist to look out for any potential forming cavities as well as other dental issues.
If it’s been more than a year since your last dental checkup, now’s the time to book your appointment! We don’t want you to have any active cavities go untreated so find a Bright Now office near you! Remember, addressing one cavity today can prevent the domino effect of problems in the future. The Bright Now dental team is here to help so you can enjoy a bright and healthy smile for many years.
