Did you know there are five distinct stages of tooth decay? Moreover, did you know that in the first stage of decay you can actually take steps to reverse the progression of the disease? It’s true. 

Whether you’re a child or an adult, in the first stage of decay, the application of fluoride via fluoride treatments, your toothpaste, and even the local water supply can stop a cavity from penetrating through the enamel and reaching its second stage. Even the saliva in your mouth and the foods you eat help to re-mineralize a tooth in jeopardy. 

But that’s just the first stage! What about the rest? Understanding how a cavity progresses can assist you in preventing each successive stage from occurring in your children. There’s always a lot going on in that little mouth!

Stage One: White Spots

In stage one, the tooth begins to show signs of strain from the attack of sugars and acids, and white spots will begin to materialize just below the surface of the enamel. These white spots are representative of the demineralization of the tooth and can be easy to miss because they’re likely to occur on your child’s molars. A dental exam is designed to catch such cavities! Can you see why regular visits to the dentist are recommended? As mentioned previously, a cavity at this stage can be repaired without the need to excavate the tooth. 

Stage Two: Enamel Decay 

Stage two marks the beginning of the end for the surface enamel that is being attacked. Initially, the tooth erodes from the underside outward, so the outer enamel will still be intact for the first half of this second stage. Once the cavity breaks through the surface of the enamel, there is no turning back, and your child will need to have the cavity corrected with a filling. 

Stage Three: Dentin Decay 

If a cavity in your child’s mouth were to progress beyond stage two without you knowing, you’d tend become aware of it when it started to hit stage three, as it would probably start to cause some pain. At this level, the cavity begins to eat away at the second level of tooth material that lies beneath the enamel: the dentin. A filling can still be used to stop the onslaught of bacteria assaulting the tooth in order to prevent the cavity from reaching the tooth’s most critical component, the pulp. 

Stage Four:

Involvement of The Pulp 

Once the cavity reaches the pulp, it’s going to hurt. A lot. So if you’ve unfortunately missed all the signs to this point, a screaming child or moaning teenager will certainly let you know that there is a big problem. Stage four is serious. A root canal is the only option of treatment at this stage, save for a complete extraction. 

Stage Five: Abscess Formation

In the fifth and final stage of a cavity, the infection has reached the tip of the root and exited the tip of the tooth’s structure. This, in turn, infects the surrounding tissues and possibly the bone structure. Swelling would be commonplace and pain severe. In children (as well as adults), an abscess can be fatal if not dealt with immediately. Root canal or extraction would be the order of the day should decay reach this stage. 

As you can see, cavities don’t happen overnight. In the early stages, regular visits can stall and reverse the progression of these dastardly little devils, so it really does pay to visit the dentist at pre-selected intervals. You can keep your kids far from stage five their whole lives, and if a little bit of prodding to get them to the dentist accomplishes that, you can rest easy despite the griping.

Give us a call – 407-843-0295, we will be happy to answer your questions as well as schedule an appointment.

According to the National Institutes of Health, tooth decay is the most prevalent health condition, after the common cold. It’s more than likely that if you haven’t already had a cavity, you will develop at least one in your lifetime. 

So, how do you know if you have a cavity? Well, depending on the severity of your tooth decay, you may experience a variety of symptoms. Here are some of the accompanying symptoms that go along with tooth decay: 

• Nothing (in the early stages)
• A toothache or spontaneous tooth pain
• Tooth sensitivity
• Pain (slight or severe) when eating something sweet, hot, or cold
• Staining (brown, black, or white) on the surface of your tooth
• Visible holes in your tooth. Those holes are cavities
• Pain when biting down 

The Best Time to Catch a Cavity

The best time to catch a cavity is in the early stages when there are few if any, symptoms. Keeping your twice yearly (or more) visits with us will ensure that we catch them in time. We will let you know the best course of treatment for your particular situation. The recommendation could be as easy as watching and waiting to see if we find any tooth decay in the very early stages, or, if you are symptomatic, we may have to formulate a more in-depth treatment plan. 

As always, brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, floss at least once a day, and try to minimize the amount of sugar in your diet. These steps will help you be proactive in preventing cavities. Even better, your teeth will thank you for it!

Give us a call – 407-843-0295, we will be happy to answer your questions as well as schedule an appointment.

If there were a quick and painless way to identify pre-cancerous cells in the mouth of someone you loved, would you want them to try it? What if that person were you?

The truth is, as uncomfortable as it may be to even think of the word “cancer,” thinking about it, and thus detecting it early, is key. That’s why, if you haven’t been to the dentist in a while, you should schedule a visit. While the oral exam that accompanies your cleaning may not be noticeable to you, it’s often your earliest line of defense in the detection of oral cancer.

Let’s take a quick look at a few of the risk factors and symptoms and consider a few options you may have to help reduce risk. Keep in mind that no list is exhaustive, and always share your oral health concerns and strategies with each of your health care providers.

Those at Risk for Oral Cancer

Passing certain age thresholds and engaging in certain lifestyle habits can place you at an increased risk for oral cancer. For example, men tend to have higher rates of oral cancers than women. Here is the shortlist: 

• Patients age 40 and older (95% of all oral cancer cases)
• Patients age 18-39 who use tobacco, are heavy drinkers or may have a previously diagnosed oral HPV infection.

 Protecting Yourself Against Oral Cancer – Warning Signs

If you experience any of the below symptoms lasting more than 7-10 days, please seek the advice of your doctor. Also, keep in mind that aside from an obviously sore throat, the below symptoms can present themselves in the absence of pain. Look out for changes that can be detected on the lips, inside the cheeks, palate, and gum tissue surrounding your teeth and tongue. 

• Reddish or whitish patches in the mouth
• A sore that fails to heal and bleeds easily
• A lump or thickening on the skin lining the inside of the mouth
• Chronic sore throat or hoarseness
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing 

Reducing risk 

If you do not visit the dentist regularly, you could be missing out on the benefits of early cancer detection. Currently, just over half of all those diagnosed with oral cancer survive more than five years – a statistic driven by late diagnosis – so please visit your dentist and get an oral exam at least once a year. If you are considered “high risk,” (see list above) you should be receiving an oral exam at least every six months, if not more frequently. 

Below is a shortlist of healthy habits you can start doing now, which may reduce your risk. 

• Avoid all tobacco products
• Avoid or reduce your consumption of alcohol
• Consume more fruits and vegetables
• Avoid excessive sun exposure that can result in cancer of the lip (using lip balm with an SPF of at least 30 can be helpful)
• Avoid exposure to environmental hazards (wood dust, formaldehyde, printing chemicals)
• Conduct a self-exam monthly so you can catch any of the symptoms listed above. Use a small hand-held mirror so you can see the back of your mouth and tongue           
• Consider coffee. While the jury is still out, some research suggests that coffee may help protect the mouth from oral cancer. 

Oral cancer is serious business, yet it can be managed when caught early. So do the right thing—visit our office regularly and get that screening. Give us a call – 407-843-0295, we will be happy to answer your questions as well as schedule an appointment.