Tooth Decay: Symptoms, causes and treatment (1) - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Tooth Decay: Symptoms, causes and treatment (1)

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Like any other part of the body, our teeth are also susceptible to a number of problems. One of the most common among them is tooth decay. The main causes for this can be attributed to the food that we eat and the bacteria that we harbour in our mouth. – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Tooth Decay: Symptoms, causes and treatment (1)


1
Tooth Decay
2
Tooth Decay
  • Like any other part of the body, our teeth are
    also susceptible to a number of problems. One of
    the most common among them is tooth decay. The
    main causes for this can be attributed to the
    food that we eat and the bacteria that we harbour
    in our mouth. Ruling out either of them to
    prevent this condition is not possible. Hence,
    maintaining good oral hygiene is very important.
    What makes dental care so important is the fact
    that tooth decay is a slow process. It starts
    with small caries in teeth, and may take years
    before large cavities that expose the nerves and
    cause pain, are formed. It can be detected early
    or at a later stage. Depending upon the extent of
    damage, there are a number of treatment options
    that a dentist may opt for.

3
Causes of tooth decay
  • Food that we eat and bacteria is the culprit
    behind this tooth condition. Foods rich in
    carbohydrates have high content of starch that
    tend to stay back on teeth, especially in between
    the teeth and in cavities. This provides food for
    bacteria that grow in these cavities. Improper
    cleaning of teeth after meals may also leave bits
    of food in between. Bacteria thrive in these food
    bits and form plaques. The acids released by the
    hordes of bacteria in plaques attack the
    outermost layer of teeth, the enamel. As the
    enamel is destroyed, the bacteria reach deeper
    layers of teeth causing greater damage. This
    problem is quite common in children due to their
    consumption of sugar-rich foods.

4
Symptoms
  • For those who do not go for regular dental
    check-ups, this problem may be detected only
    after one feels a toothache. However, the common
    symptoms that one should watch out are 
  • Bad breath
  • Foul taste in the mouth
  • Toothache (due to infection or irritation of the
    tooth pulp)
  • Pain while chewing food, brushing teeth, eating
    hot or cold food or drinks or breathing in cold
    air
  • Holes or pits (cavities) in teeth
  • In case of severity, pus-filled sacs may be
    formed at the base of the teeth, in the bone,
    that is accompanied with swollen glands and jaws,
    fever, and acute pain.

5
Treatments
  • Your dentist will perform a dental check up to
    see if it's a case of tooth decay. In case it is,
    he would also ascertain the severity of the
    damage. The various treatment options available
    are as follows Fluoride Treatment Toothpastes
    and mouth rinses already have some amount of
    fluoride in them, as this mineral is important
    for dental health. Fluoride prevents cavities and
    helps teeth to repair themselves. In case the
    tooth decay is in the initial stages, fluoride
    treatment is what dentists resort to.
    Professional fluoride treatment involves the
    dentist applying a liquid, gel, or foam to the
    affected tooth.
  • Fillings If the rotting has penetrated deeper
    than the enamel, one has to go for tooth filling.
    In the cavity filling procedure, the affected
    portion of the teeth is removed, and filled with
    a filling material that restores the shape of the
    teeth. The filling could be composite resins,
    silver amalgam, gold, or ceramics.

6
Treatments
Continue
  • Crowns In case of extensive deterioration, doing
    multiple fillings will weaken the tooth. In such
    case, crowns are used. The damaged area of the
    tooth is removed, treated, and a crown or a
    covering jacket is put over the remaining teeth.
    The crowns are usually made of gold or porcelain.
  • Root Canal Treatment In case of a severe problem
    in which even the nerves get affected, root canal
    treatment is required. In this form of treatment,
    the pulp is removed along with the affected parts
    of the tooth. This area is then filled with a
    sealing material to prevent exposure of the inner
    parts to harmful bacteria.
  • Tooth Extraction In case most of the tooth has
    been damaged, a dentist may have to extract the
    tooth altogether. It is advisable to go for a
    dental implant to fill the empty place left by
    the extracted tooth, as other teeth may move in
    to fill that space.

7
Prevention of tooth decay
  • Here are some simple ways to prevent tooth
    decay 
  • Brush at least twice daily. If it's not possible
    to brush after every meal, at least rinse your
    mouth every time after you eat something.
  • Avoid eating snacks frequently.
  • Eat food like cheese, fruits and vegetables that
    are naturally good for your teeth.
  • Use fluoride toothpaste.
  • Drink water that has fluoride added to it, like
    tap water.
  • Visit a dentist regularly.
  • Instead of getting into the dilemma of which
    treatment procedure to go for, try to prevent
    this condition from occurring. Follow proper
    prevention measures, and in case you experience
    the slightest pain, go to the dentist immediately
    so that the problem can be curbed in the initial
    stages itself.

8
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