Cavities
A cavity is a hole that’s been worn away in the tooth’s dentin. This is the second layer of the tooth, below the enamel and above the pulp.
Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the body. It’s harder than bone, in fact. Nevertheless, it’s still subject to damage and decay if plaque is left to fester on its surface. This appears in the form of little grey (and sometimes off-white) spots on the tooth. Many people mistake these spots for cavities themselves, but these come later.
After plaque has eaten past the enamel, it begins its work on the dentin, which is also stronger than bone, but less strong than enamel; thus the decay process for dentin is faster.
Once a hole is worn away in the dentin, you officially have a cavity. There are no natural means of remedying this situation, and you will need a dental filling.
Pulpitis
As stated above, the tooth pulp lies below the dentin. As the name implies, this is the fleshy, “pulpy” inner core of the tooth. It contains the tooth nerve and various blood vessels, supplying the tooth with life.
If a cavity is not resolved with a dental filling, the plaque will begin to infect the pulp. This leads to inflammation (one of your body’s natural means of defense against infection and damage).
Inflammation leads to swelling, however, the swelling is suppressed by the surrounding dentin and thus focused downward on the tooth nerve and the blood vessels that give it life. This is how the tooth eventually dies.
At this stage of tooth decay, you will either need a root canal or a full extraction.
Abscess Formation
If the tooth pulp is left to the onslaught of plaque, an inflamed pocket of pus will eventually form – this is an abscess.
Abscesses usually appear near the tooth root at the gumline and often resemble a pimple.
Your dentist can perform one of the two services mentioned above – a root canal or dental extraction – to drain the abscess and remove all infected tissue.
If you decide on the second route, a dental implant can be placed to replace the tooth.
Periodontal (Gum) Disease
If plaque works its destructive magic on the gumline for too long, it will eventually become infected. The body now responds in the same way it does with pulpitis – by producing a hormone that results in inflammation as a means of fighting off the acid and bacteria in plaque.
This inflammation of the gums can either be mild and reversible (gingivitis) or severe and irreversible (periodontitis).
Symptoms of gingivitis include:
● Swollen gums that bleed excessively when brushing
● Discolored gums – usually pink or bright purple
● Bad breath (halitosis)
● Mild to moderate pain
Symptoms of periodontitis include:
● Recession of the gumline from the teeth
● Loose teeth, often causing them to shift in place or fall out
● Major discoloration of the gums
● Excessive bleeding
● Very bad halitosis
● Moderate to severe pain
There are a number of options available for gum disease, including gum cleaning, scaling, root planing, and host modulation.
