Tag Archives: Cavities

Another Reason to Get Fillings: Cavities Are Contagious!

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Photo Courtesy iStock/NPR

Photo Courtesy iStock/NPR

If you grew up always visiting the dentist and getting treated for one dental cavity after another, then you will probably want to avoid sharing your spoon and straw at the dinner table. Tooth decay is the most common childhood disease and many parents might be surprised to realize that they could pass on their bacterium that leads to tooth decay to their infant or child. If you are a new parent or expecting then you will definitely see why it is important to have dental fillings.

What is a Dental Cavity?

A dental cavity is a hole that develops in the tooth that is infected by oral bacteria. The infection, known as dental caries (tooth decay) eats away at the tooth’s structure and flourishes into an even deeper issue when left untreated. The bacteria that cause caries are commonly found in dental plaque, and deconstruct the tooth’s structure when other germs produce acids to erode tooth enamel. The aches and pains from a dental cavity make living difficult for your child by disrupting eating habits as well as academic performance.

Passing on Cavities

Multiple studies have shown that bacterium is passed on from sharing hygiene products, pacifiers and food. According to research from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry, parents can transmit dental caries from cavities through their saliva. For example, parents who clean their baby’s pacifier with their own saliva, or tasting children’s food and using the same utensil to feed the child can permit the cavity-causing germs from adults to be passed on to the child’s mouth.

This knowledge does not mean that sharing food or utensils is always going to be an issue, but if the adult has active tooth decay in their mouth and does not practice good oral hygiene, their child is at risk of developing their own dental cavities.

Practice Good Oral Hygiene

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry reminds parents the importance of brushing and visiting the dentist regularly. The AAPD encourages parents to find a dental practice for their child once their first tooth emerges. Even if the parent does indeed spread bacteria to their children’s mouth, the child will not necessarily develop cavities instantly if they brush their teeth regularly.

Preparing your child early with practicing good oral hygiene can help prevent the development of cavities. Teaching your young to brush their teeth twice a day and floss can help control the harmful bacteria that accumulates on their teeth and gums. This also means that parents themselves should also model these hygiene skills early on to help their children understand the importance of oral health. As a result, this will help keep your children healthier and less susceptible to tooth decay.

Dental Fillings for a Brilliant Smile

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When it comes to healthy teeth we can only hope that what we are doing is right for our teeth, but a diet of highly-processed foods and sugar are often the sources to blame for cavities and other teeth problems. Cavities are an infection caused by a combination of carbohydrate foods and bacterias in the mouth. The bacteria eats the carbohydrates and produce acid. This acid causes the PH to drop on the surface of teeth and dissolve the hard enamel slowly. The exposure to certain foods develop cavities that we do not want to live with and to resolve the growth of tooth decay, your dentist can treat cavities through fillings.

Tooth fillings are designed to restore a tooth damaged by decay back to its original shape. The dentist first removes the source of bacteria and decayed tooth material, then the cleaned out cavity is filled with a material suitable to close off the space. Depending on the space and location of the cavity the dentist and patient agree on the type of filling, which include amalgam (silver), gold or tooth-colored filling.

Amalgam is the most common material used in correction for dental decay. The filling looks silver in appearance and is resistant. Due to its dark color most dentists avoid use for visible areas in the front teeth.

Gold fillings are tolerated by gum tissues and may last up to 20 years for patients who take care of their teeth. Most dentists consider this as the best filling material.

The tooth colored fillings are made of composite plastic resins or porcelain material. Since the material is made to match the color of teeth they can be used to fill the front as well as the top surface of the tooth. Porcelain is also used in the same areas and provides the same natural effects when bonded to the tooth. Porcelain is resistant to staining and covers most of the affected tooth.

Many people consider the traditional methods of fillings to be outdated and feel the need to replace them with new porcelain or composite plastic fillings, but that is not necessary. According to Delta Dental, the availability of new materials for fillings does not eliminate the need for traditional dental materials. Amalgam and gold fillings are stronger and more durable. These materials restore teeth that withstand extreme forces of chewing and grinding, especially in the back of the mouth. The FDA does not recommend removing amalgam fillings from patients because they could cause harm to tooth structure and increase health risks.

Why is it Important to get Dental Fillings?

Regular dentist appointments should always be kept to maintain the function of teeth. Only a dentist can determine if a patient has a cavity that needs filling. When these cavities are left untreated they make teeth more sensitive to cold and heat, causing pain in the affected teeth, and are vulnerable to decay.

People need to treat cavities before they become bigger. Filling the cavity will help restore strength of the tooth before it starts to damage the entire tooth and neighboring teeth. Addressing the cavity early will help to fight against tooth decay from spreading and becoming worse. Reasons why people need to get fillings include:

  • Cavities

  • Tooth fractures

  • Slow loss of tooth structure

  • Tooth Discoloration

  • Filling replacement

How to prevent from cavities:

The best type of filling, is no filling at all. There are a number of ways to abstain from cavities. Brushing to remove plaque is the best way to avoid cavities, but there are other ways to avoid them including:

  • Brushing three times a day with fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash

  • Floss daily

  • Eat a balanced diet

  • Visit a dentist regularly

  • Reduce sugary foods and beverages

  • Chew sugarless gum to avoid dry mouth

  • Drink lots of water

To find out which teeth need fillings or if it has been longer than a year since your last check up, visit Eastlake Dentistry in San Diego. Dr. San Tin can settle all of your doubts about fillings and treat tooth decay before it becomes worse. Keep your teeth strong and healthy for good, book your appointment for dental fillings today.