A Kingston-upon-Thames dentist advises on tooth decay treatment

Tooth decay is caused by acid build up in the mouth, this is a by-product of the bacteria that is in our food says a Kingston dentist. The acid is produced when sugary products are left in the mouth after eating, sugar may well be a nice treat and an energy boost, but if left in the mouth it feeds the bacteria and then the acid produced attacks the enamel on our teeth. Cavities are soon formed by chewing food that is pressed into the cavities during eating, the softened enamel wear away quickly. Then cracks appear deep inside the cavity, this allows the bacteria to seep into the inner chamber of the tooth and infect the tooth and gums. The treatment needed to recover a tooth from this process can vary according to the extent of the damage. Cleaning the teeth properly and remembering to brush inside the top of the tooth is one way that will keep the decay at bay, but it won’t prevent it entirely. The dentist may be able to stem the decay by a fluoride cleaning treatment, but this is rare as it only really works at the very early stages. Drilling out the top of the cavity to get rid of the softer enamel that has already been damaged is the first stage, and then a clean up of the cracks to rid them of hidden bacteria comes next. A filling is then required and this is made up in the surgery as a paste, it hardens quickly and seals the cavity. If the cavity is a deep one, then a crown will be needed to top off the filling. A crown is a hard topping that does the job of the enamel on the tooth. In extreme cases a root canal treatment may be needed, this involves a deeper cavity filling, and is much the same as a normal filling.