Tooth Decay: Causes & How To Prevent It

Tooth decay is one of the most common health issues and can lead to significant troubles that extend well beyond anything aesthetic.

In this guide, we’ll cover what dental decay is and how to prevent tooth decay it before it starts.

What is tooth decay?

In the simplest terms, tooth decay refers to damaged areas in the teeth. This decay may be visible to the human eye or may require special equipment to identify the decayed areas.

People who have tooth decay often experience no symptoms at all, or they may experience toothache, a broken tooth, or even tooth loss. Damage due to tooth decay is permanent and irreversible, which is why these issues are so critical to prevent or address in their earliest stages.

What causes tooth decay?

Tooth decay can have a variety of causes, the most common being:

• Bacteria

• Poor oral hygiene

• Consumption of sugary drinks

• Consumption of acidic or sugary foods

• Lack of interdental cleaning

• Having fragile enamel

• Having underlying health conditions which impact oral health 

• Alcohol or drug use

However, this list is far from comprehensive. Overall, there can be a combination of factors that may contribute to one’s susceptibility to tooth decay, whether hereditary or behavioural.

We strongly recommend speaking with an oral care professional to determine your own risk factors and establish a treatment plan suited to your lifestyle.

Common symptoms of tooth decay:

While many people experience no symptoms, tooth decay is known to bring some common symptoms, such as:

• Toothache

• Tooth or gum tenderness

• Sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods, or spontaneous sensitivity

• Unpleasant taste in your mouth

• White, grey, brown, or black spots on the teeth

• Bad breath

• Tooth infection

• Tooth loss

What happens if tooth decay goes untreated?

If left untreated, tooth decay can cause a severe inflammation in the tooth that causes unbearable toothache. This is the infamous pulpitis. It can then progress to a severe infection. This is what’s called a “tooth abscess,” which can be extremely painful as well. Essentially, the tooth decay destroys the pulp of the tooth.

In some severe cases, untreated cavities may result in a root canal or even removal of the affected tooth. It is important to catch tooth decay as early as possible.

Tooth decay is one of the many hidden risks of plaque build-up. It’s a good idea to prevent dental plaque build-up - and seek treatment early - in order to avoid more severe damage.

Treatments for tooth decay

While tooth decay prevention is always the goal, sometimes it’s necessary to treat existing decay so you can get back to your baseline, healthy smile. In these cases, there are a few treatment options to consider:

Early-stage treatments

Early-stage tooth decay refers to decay that exists before a cavity is fully formed.

On top of reducing your consumption of sugary, acidic foods or drinks and improving the brushing of your teeth, a forming decay can be addressed by using a higher-fluoridated toothpaste/mouthwash and having your dentist apply a fluoride treatment or prescribing you a specific product with a higher fluoride content.

Treating cavities

In the later stages, a cavity may already be formed and will require professional treatment. This treatment may include:

• Filling the cavity

• Applying a crown (of various types depending on the extent of the cavity)

• A root canal to remove the damaged nerves

• Removing the tooth, if it cannot be restored, and replace it with a prosthesis (bridge, implants, denture)