Cavity. That's the word no one wants to hear at the dentist's office.
A cavity (say: kah-vuh-tee) develops when a tooth decays (say:
dih-kaze), or breaks down. A cavity is a hole that can grow bigger and
deeper over time. Cavities are also called dental caries (say:
kar-eez), and if you have a cavity, it's important to get it
repaired.
But why would your tooth develop a hole? Blame
plaque. That's a sticky, slimy substance made up mostly of the germs that cause
tooth decay. The bacteria in your mouth make acids so when plaque clings to your
teeth, the acids can eat away at the outermost layer of the tooth, called the
enamel (say: ih-nah-mul).
If you don't go to the dentist, the acids
can continue to make their way through the enamel, and the inside parts of your
tooth can begin to decay. If you've ever had a toothache or heard an adult
complain about one, it may have been because there was a cavity that reached all
the way inside a tooth, where the nerve endings are. Ouch!
Your dentist will carefully examine your teeth and may take X-rays. If your dentist discovers
a cavity, he or she can repair it for you by first removing the rotted part of
your tooth with a special drill. The dentist then fills the hole in your tooth
with a special material. It's called a filling.
Does it hurt? Sometimes it does, but your dentist can give you an anesthestic. That's a kind
of medicine that will numb the area around the problem tooth while you're
getting your new filling.
Though cavities can be repaired, try to avoid them by taking care of your
teeth. Here's how:
- Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste after each time you eat or at
least twice a day. Bedtime is an important time to brush.
- Brush up and down in a circular motion.
- Gently brush your gums as well to keep them healthy.
- Floss your teeth once a day to remove plaque and food that's stuck between
your teeth.
- Limit sweets and sugary drinks, like soda.
- See your dentist twice a year for regular checkups. We hope you'll hear
those two wonderful words: "No cavities!"
Updated and reviewed by: Lisa A. Goss, RDH, BS,
and Garrett B. Lyons, Sr., DDS
Date reviewed: August 2004
Originally
reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD, and Neil
Izenberg, MD