We all hear about cavities, tooth decay, and
maintaining a healthy dental regimen, but do you ever wonder exactly how it all
happens? I mean, yes, we understand that our tooth’s structure breaks down from
sugar and whatever else. But for real, what is the actual process? What are the
minuscule details that we don’t actually know much about and the scientific
process behind tooth decay and cavities? I feel like if we all knew exactly
what it was that happened to our teeth when we neglect them, we’d be more apt
to take care of them.
With that said, we’ve come to provide you with
the exact breakdown as to what happens with our teeth when particles of food
break down and become harmful agents for bacteria to attack our teeth.
Enamel
breakdown.
So, the first thing that happens is our
tooth’s enamel (the hard, protective coating on the outside of our teeth)
breaks down. How?
Well, when a tooth is exposed to acid (which
is caused by foods and drinks that contain sugars), the acid repeatedly attacks
the enamel and the tooth. Typically, a whitish spot will appear that shows our
enamel has been eroded quite a bit at this point.
The
enamel is completely destroyed.
Once your tooth’s protective surface becomes
worn away and the breakdown continues, eventually the enamel will become
completely destroyed, meaning a cavity has formed. A cavity is simply a hole
that has formed in the absence of enamel, meaning the root of your tooth is now
exposed (which is why it hurts to eat anything near it, and cold or hot foods
and liquids cause pain).
Once a cavity forms, the process is
irreversible and permanent, meaning a trip to the dentist is the only fix.
Repair.
Like mentioned above, the only thing that can
be done from here is synthetic repair, as the tooth’s natural structure is
completely lost. Luckily, our technology is advanced enough to handle cavities
and other dental needs. Filling a cavity actually doesn’t take much for a
dentist to do, as a mold of different materials is fitted into the exposed
tooth’s hole, and it eventually hardens to “remake” your tooth almost as good
as new.
And there you have it. While the process isn’t
actually as extensive or hard to understand as you may have figured, there’s
certainly something to be said for how simple it is to avoid.
Over time and with normal wear and tear plaque
builds up on our teeth. Now, a lot of things can impact how quickly this plaque builds up and you can slow the process by not smoking, brushing your teeth
regularly and flossing, but regardless, plaque will eventually build up anyway.
Your dentist has special tools to help remove plaque from your teeth and it’s
important to see them on a regular basis. But, when you’re at home, there are
some natural remedies to help deal with plaque as well (but they shouldn’t
replace the dentist!)
Baking
soda.
Baking soda is a common ingredient in many
cleaning products and even in many toothpastes. It is slightly abrasive which
helps to remove plaque from teeth. To use it at home, simply dip your wet
toothbrush into some baking soda and then use it as you would toothpaste. It
may not taste the best, but it’s effective and can have a cool foaming effect
too!
Aloe
vera.
We’ve all heard of aloe as a treatment for
sunburn, but did you know it can help your teeth too? Aloe is best used as a
toothpaste mixture when combined with water, baking soda, vegetable glycerine
and lemon (or another flavor) essential oil. Used regularly it will help your
teeth look white and healthy!
Orange
peel.
Orange peels are a great toothbrush on the go!
They are gentle enough to be rubbed on your teeth, but the acid in the orange
peel can help whiten your teeth and will help your breath too. Not sure where
to get an orange peel post-dinner? Order an old-fashioned and ask them to
include an orange peel on the rim. When it’s delivered, sip the drink and then
use the orange peel to clean your teeth! Just use some water to rinse your
teeth after so the citric acid doesn’t sit on your teeth too long.
Vinegar.
Now, admittedly, the prospect of putting
straight vinegar in your mouth may not sound particularly exciting. But, mixed
with some salt and water and swished for a few days in a row can help clean your
teeth in a 100% natural way!
Now, none of these should be taken as a
replacement for traditional brushing or for visits to the dentist. Both of
those are still super important! But when you’re at home and looking for a
natural way to keep your teeth clean, these are some great ideas!
Missing tooth is no fun. Apart from the gap in smile, you
are going to have to suffer from a number of problems such as inability to eat
certain foods, talk and keep your mouth in right position. And the loss of
confidence is going to be a certain outcome.
Good news is that there are many options available to
replace the missing teeth; and they restore your smile in quite good manner.
But it doesn’t really mean that you can go for any option. You will need to
consult with your dentist to know about the appropriate option. Having
knowledge about few options beforehand can be very helpful in this regard.
Why it is important to replace a missing tooth
Replacing a missing tooth is very important due to the fact
that you need to get back your ability to chew and speak properly. Furthermore,
you will be able to smile to the fullest. Another reason you need to
immediately pay attention to the replacement of missing tooth is that the teeth
around the missing tooth start moving towards the missing tooth’s area to fill
the gap. This movement causes defects in the bite.
Moreover, the gum tissues and jawbone underneath the missing
tooth start deteriorating if nothing is done in terms of tooth replacement.
Certain tooth replacement options stimulate the said areas and stop the process
of deterioration.
Options for replacing missing tooth
When it comes to replacement of
missing tooth, the first option that comes into mind is the dental
implantation. This treatment belongs to the modern era and it has been proven
as the perfect solution if you want to get back your smile and ability to chew
your foods in the normal way. This treatment mainly involves surgical insertion
of a metal root (implant) into the jawbone. When this metal is properly fused
with the jawbone, the dentist will then attach an abutment and a crown which
means that treatment is complete and you can now chew your favorite foods. The
critical advantage of dental implant is that it doesn’t only stop jawbone
deterioration but it also stimulates the jawbone tissue production, bringing
the jawbone back to its normal state.
Although dental implant is an
ideal solution to replace missing teeth, they are not for everyone since they
require healthy jawbone. In this scenario, you can consider getting a dental
bridge to replace the missing tooth. The tooth which is going to show up in
place of the missing tooth is going to be prosthetic but it will eventually
help you chew your foods after some time. This option requires surrounding
teeth around the missing tooth to be stronger because they have to hold the
crowns which hold the prosthetic tooth.
The third option to mention is the
denture. When we talk about dentures, we draw a picture of upper and lower jaws
with faux teeth. These jaws are inserted in the mouth and they settle on the
gums that once had teeth. Typically, this option is considered the least
expensive one.
If you wonder what option is going to be the best one for
you, you can take help from the information above. However, you can make the
final decision during dental visit.
Sugar does not contain nutrients. In case that you need
to grow big and healthy and function at ideal levels you couldn't do it on a
diet just based on sugar.
If so, why at that point would microscopic organisms,
who require nutrients to survive just like you, pick sugar as their favorite
nourishment when there are such a large number of other basic foods that can
increase development gave by its host – you and the diet you take?
Truth be told sugar is added to nourishment and
flour is refined to stop the food from decaying. Things being what they are, if
sugar turns off or curtails bacterial activity, for what reason do the
microorganisms that cause tooth decay consume it as a nourishment source?
When you take a glimpse at it along these lines it
doesn't bode well.
Could it be possible that the bacteria found in
cavities are really not responsible for cavities but rather simply happen to be
there afterward? After all your mouth is abundant with billions of microbes constantly.
The microscopic organisms responsible for tooth
decay according to my notes is called StrepMutans.
However to cause tooth decayStrep Mutans would need to:
Eat nourishments that ordinary microbes don't
digest, including white sugar, white flour, and purified items – nourishments
that are prepared by the food business so microscopic organisms won't consume
them.
Not eat nourishment that typical microbes typically
eat, for example, meat, fish, and soil grown foods.
Be the only microorganism that doesn’t digest
nutrients in your diet
You (and I) have been informed that white sugar
causes tooth decay. But sugar eliminates bacteria. White sugar lessens
bacterial capacity as it absorbs water and dries them out.
Why
is Sugar So Bad?
As indicated by a 2012 article in the journal Nature,
sugar is a poisonous substance that should be managed like tobacco and liquor.
Studies demonstrate that an excessive amount of sugar not only makes us fat, it
also wreaks havoc on our liver, disturbs our digestion, affects brain
functioning, and may leave us vulnerable to heart illness, diabetes, and
perhaps cancer.
Sugar promotes irritation, fastens ageing and harms
your immune system.
Sugar has no nutrient.
Sugar makes fatty deposits in the liver prompting
non-alcoholic fatty liver illness – which causes inflammation and scarring of
the liver. Like foie grass – which is French for fatty liver.
Sugar builds blood triglycerides which are linked to
heart illness.
Sugar causes insulin protection – leading to higher
insulin levels in blood. Insulin is a storage hormone. More insulin implies you
store more fat. Setting you up for obesity and diabetes.
Sugar makes you more inclined to sickness and disease.
Sugar is addictive. It is said by research to be the
most addictive substance on the planet.
Sugar is a poison.
Sugar is flammable.
The
Real Reason for Tooth Decay:
Demineralization
and Remineralization
So far I have concentrated on irritation and
poisons, sugar and addressed the requirement for an ideal diet and you may have
been pondering what this must do with tooth decay and dental sickness. Well the
reason is, I trust tooth decay is caused by absence of nutrient and unstable
systems in the body, similar to inflammation and poison.
Tooth decay is caused by a decline of vitamins, minerals,
and different nutrients in the body that are required to make solid teeth.
Teeth are the same as bones. Bones don't spoil or
decay. Bones, in any case, can lose minerals. This is named osteoporosis. Much
the same as bones, teeth additionally lose minerals – a procedure that is
called demineralization. However like bones, teeth don't spoil or decay they
end up powerless and penetrable because of absence of minerals.
So what happens to make bones and teeth
demineralize when the minerals are what makes up their very structure and
provides them with strength?
Tooth veneer is comprised of a mineral rich layer
called hydroxyapatite containing a plenitude calcium and phosphate.
The body always needs to balance its levels of
minerals, for example, calcium and phosphate to keep up its acid-base balance
and provide organs with what they require to work. Consistently the calcium and
phosphate from the teeth goes to the bones, cerebrum, heart and different
organs through the circulation system to give the body a supply of what it
requires to self-manage and work properly. This procedure of minerals moving
from the teeth is called demineralization.
The teeth are maintained in a constant equilibrium, demineralization
and remineralization.
The ability of the finish to remineralize relies
upon a few components:
The availability of
minerals including calcium, phosphate and magnesium
Substances that polish
teeth
Hormone generation in
the parotid organ (the major salivary organ in the cheek) affected by an organ
in the cerebrum called the hypothalamus.
It would bode well that if there are a few elements
associated with tooth remineralization then there would also be sufficient
reasons for tooth decay.
Tooth decay is a multifactorial procedure that
relies upon the availability of the right nutrients, compounds and hormones
other than sugar consuming and microbes. Prior I asked you what causes tooth
decay and revealed to you that sugar was both the good and bad answer. Wrong
perspective that sugar develops microscopic organisms that produce acid and eat
cavities in your teeth.
Right in light of the fact that a diet high in sugar
makes inflammation, acidity and lethality and disturbs stomach functioning
causing malabsorption of nutrients all of which add to fundamental issues that lead
you more exposed to dental illnesses. While you need to make sure that you are following proper dental care procedure on daily basis, you also need to visit your Roseburg dentist to prevent and get rid of the tooth decay and cavities.