How to Identify Dental Caries?

What is dental caries?

Commonly known as "tooth cavities". In simple words,it is the loss of tooth structure due to disintegration and demineralization of tooth surface.

What are the causes for dental caries?

• Poor oral hygiene 
• High sugar and sticky foods
• Frequent food intake
• Tooth morphology ( tooth crowding ,deep pit and fissures,malocclusion)
• Food impaction  

How to identify dental caries?

Identifying dental caries in earlier stages, is good thing to preserve the tooth from extraction. Symptoms are not same for all persons. It varies from  one individual to another. Common symptoms,at earlier to advanced stages are

1. Mild brownish discoloration 
2. Light sensitivity when eating hot ,cold and sweet foods.
3. Acute pain ( it may last for some time and it resolve on its own )
4. Large cavity formation results in pain while chewing , food impaction and bad breath
5. Swelling ,pus discharge, chronic pain ,it may radiate to head and neck 

Benefits of identifying dental caries in earlier stages:. 

        If we identify dental caries in earlier stages, it can be corrected by simple treatment like restoration, it requires less treatment time and treatment cost. Restoration involves removal of affected tooth part and replace it with restorative material. It's a single appointment treatment.

        In advanced stages, there will be a large amount of tooth loss. It involves complex treatment like root canal treatment, extraction,and complete tooth restoration and crown placement. It also involves multiple dental appointments and there will be a high treatment cost.

Ways to prevent dental caries:

• Good oral hygiene 

                - Brushing two times a day

                - Gargling after every food intake 

• Avoid frequent food intake 
• Reducing sugar intake 
• Periodic dental checkup