October 23, 2024, 2:38 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
Many people only go to the dentist when it already hurts. The diagnosis is often cavities – and the drill is pulled out. But is it possible to recognize tooth decay earlier and prevent the unpleasant treatment? What is the best way to prevent dental disease in general? Dentist Dr. Anne Heinz provides answers and valuable tips.
“Always brush your teeth; otherwise, you’ll get cavities.” – most of us have had this phrase in our ears since early childhood. Nobody really wants to get tooth decay, and yet it is one of the most common dental diseases.1 Dr. Anne Heinz elucidates the factors that contribute to cavity development and explains why brushing teeth is only a component of prevention.
Overview
“Tooth decay means the tooth is rotting”
FITBOOK: What exactly does it mean when you have tooth decay?
Dr. Anne Heinz: “Caries signifies that the tooth is undergoing decay,” explains Dr. Anne Heinz. This occurs when the ‘Streptococcus mutans’ bacterium, notorious for its role in the development of cavities, consumes excessive sugar and begins to erode the tooth with acids. This results in cavities.”
First visible warning signs of tooth decay
How can I tell if I have caries?
“The initial stage of tooth decay is imperceptible. This stage is barely noticeable. At this stage, the disease is still in the outermost layer of the tooth, and we don’t even notice it. You can recognize it on the front teeth when small white spots appear between the teeth. These white spots may serve as an early indication of dental issues. Regular dental check-ups are essential in preventing the progression of cavities. They can see it, and it’s also visible on an X-ray.”
Can you get rid of tooth decay without a dentist?
“If a tooth is in the very early stages of decay, you can remineralize the small lesions with optimal oral hygiene and a really great diet. Incidentally, our saliva does this every day. Tiny lesions form every day, and our saliva remineralizes them.”
Do you always have to use a drill?
Can you treat tooth decay without drilling?
“There are now great ways of avoiding the drill in the early stages of tooth decay. You can remineralize the teeth. By leveraging the body’s natural remineralization process, one can often avoid the need for invasive procedures like injections or drilling. In some cases, however, you still have to use a drill, remove the diseased substance, and then replace the removed tooth substance with a filling, inlay, or crown.”
What happens if cavities are not treated?
“There are different types of cavities. One type stagnates and does not progress. We call this a stable lesion or dry cavity. Such stable lesions can be monitored over time and may not require immediate treatment. However, the majority of lesions that we see are flourishing cavities. This type of cavity progresses swiftly. The deeper it penetrates into the tooth, the faster it progresses. As a result, the entire tooth is destroyed, the germs work their way down to the nerve, and patients come to our practice with a big cheek.”
Sugar fuels tooth decay
How long does tooth decay take to reach the root?
“It varies greatly how long tooth decay takes from the initial to the final stage. Its progression is highly individual and depends on factors such as sugar intake, dietary habits, and oral hygiene practices.”
How do you notice that you have tooth decay under a filling?
“You probably won’t notice it the moment something small initially forms at the edge of the filling. Only when the caries lesion becomes larger can pain occur. Here’s a tip: if you’ve had a filling, the nerve may still react, and you may still feel slight pain in the first week. But if the pain has not gone after a week, then please visit the dentist again. It’s important not to dismiss the possibility of residual cavities. Because sometimes you get very close to the tooth nerve, and then the bacteria may already be integrated into the nerve.”
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“The main cause of tooth decay is a poor diet”
How can tooth decay be prevented?
“The main cause of tooth decay is a poor diet, a diet very high in sugar. We can actively prevent it by eating a very healthy diet. It has long been assumed that the presence of caries bacteria alone is enough for bacteria to cause tooth decay. This is why mothers were not allowed to lick the spoon(of their children; editor’s note) in the past. Current knowledge, however, refutes this notion. We all have bacteria, but depending on how we eat, they either start running riot or do us good.”
What diet is good for teeth?
“I would focus my diet not just on dental health but on general health. This includes a large proportion of vegetables, especially green vegetables. If you eat meat, you should always make sure it’s organic. It is good to eat a diet rich in protein. Current dietary guidelines suggest that an individual requires at least 1.5 to two grams of protein per day for each kilogram of body weight. Ideally, one should aim to minimize or eliminate sugary foods from their diet.”
How harmful are acidic foods?
“There are acidic foods that are very healthy, such as lemons or oranges. However, for dental hygiene, it’s crucial to wait at least 30 minutes to brush teeth after consuming acidic foods.”