How to Treat Tooth Decay

Tooth decay not only affects your nutritional intake but also predisposes you to develop other dental concerns. In most cases, tooth decay creates cavities in your teeth thus making it difficult for you to chew food properly before swallowing. You also experience a lot of pain which reduces your quality of life as well as prevents you from eating hard form. The temperature of the food or drinks you consume should neither be too hot nor cold to prevent triggering pain. Therefore, if you are a victim of tooth day and seek treatment, Houston teeth in a day  appointments can help you understand various ways of dealing with your dental concern. Below are a few ways you can treat tooth decay.

•       Fluoride treatment

In the initial stages of tooth decay, fluoride treatment is effective in liming and preventing the spread of tooth decay. It is considered one of the most effective ways of treating tooth decay. Fluoride is commonly found in certain fish, tea, and food. It is also supplemented in some toothpaste. Therefore, toothpaste that contains synthetic fluoride is recommended for brushing your teeth. The reason is that the fluoride present in the toothpaste strengthens the enamel of your teeth and protects it from acid erosion that causes tooth decay. It also prevents the production of bacterial acids that occurs due to plaque formation. Therefore, you can apply fluoride over the affected teeth in the form of fluoride varnish, gel, or paste.

•       Artificial tooth crown

Another way of treating tooth decay is using artificial crowns. Usually, before the affected tooth is covered with an artificial crown, your care provider drills the tooth to remove all the damaged parts. Then a crown that assumes the shape of your tooth is developed and placed over it to prevent food particles from collecting in the cavity which can create a good environment for bacteria to thrive. The dental crown may be made of ceramic, porcelain, glass, or gold. During placement, the crown is attached using dental cement.

•       Dental fillings

Dental fillings are often used to fill cavities especially when the enamel is the only part of your tooth affected. Therefore, if your cavities have extended past the enamel to the dentine or pulp cavities dental filling is not an option. The filling is used to replace the damaged enamel and can be composed of amalgam. Dental cement is also used to seal the amalgam onto your teeth. Additionally, inlays and onlays made of long-lasting and hard metal like gold can be used to fill cavities.

•       Root canal treatment

Root canal treatment is the last treatment option used when dealing with tooth decay. It is mainly indicated when the pulp cavity, which is composed of blood vessels and nerves is affected causing pain, especially after exposure to cold or hot drinks or food. During root canal treatment the infected part is removed and medication is used to clear any infection. The cavity is filled with an artificial pulp usually referred to as gutta-percha.

Severely decayed teeth may be removed to prevent complications like the spread of infection to other body parts. However, if you have decayed teeth, you can prevent tooth loss by seeking medical help early and using any of the above methods. If you are interested in trying any, call Dr. John Freeman today.