Dental cavities are holes in the teeth that occur because of decay. They can cause severe pain in the teeth and can even lead to the loss of the tooth. Read on to know more about this dental problem.

Dental cavities
Cavities in the teeth are holes caused by tooth decay. They are also known as dental caries. Cavities can start off as small holes called microcavities. These microcavities may not lead to any symptom like pain, and so, you may not even realize that you have them.

Most people realize they have cavities in the teeth only when they start feeling pain. Even when pain is experienced, many people are scared to visit the dentist. As a result of this, they only end up visiting the dentist when it is too late, by which time the cavity would have probably destroyed the tooth.

This is the reason why it is necessary to visit the dentist regularly.

Tooth decay
The sugar we consume through our food reacts with bacteria in our mouth and helps produce acids that can attack the outer layer of the tooth, known as enamel. Gradually, it causes the minerals in the teeth to dissolve.

Once the outer layer gets dissolved, it attacks the inner layers of the tooth or the pulp that is soft and sensitive. At this stage, the pain increases. Usually, by this stage, the decay has gone deep, and it may not be possible to save the tooth.

Causes of cavities
Cavities are caused by tooth decay because of bacteria reacting with sugar and food particles. Other causes include:

• Poor oral hygiene because of not brushing properly or frequently
• Dental plaque from bacteria, food particles, and acid that stick to the teeth
• Dry mouth with less saliva production can cause a build-up of plaque
• Not having enough fluoride
• Eating-related issues like anorexia

Symptoms
Here are the symptoms of dental cavities:

• Pain is the primary symptom.
• Irritation and discomfort in the tooth, along with higher sensitivity levels.
• Holes in the teeth, known as pits.
• Stains on the teeth
• Infection, leading to pus

Stages of tooth decay
At the first stage, decay can start in the form of a small white spot on the tooth. At this stage, it is very easy to treat dental decay. Regular dental checkups can help in spotting tooth decay at this stage.

In the next stage, the decay can break the enamel open and attack the pulp. When this happens, the tooth has been damaged. It is not possible to save the tooth at this stage. The only option is to clean the cavity and go for a tooth filling. If the tooth is not treated at this stage, the decay can go down to the nerve level, causing unbearable pain.

If a cavity is not treated, then it can spread to other teeth as well.