The Causes and Symptoms of Tooth Decay

How tooth decay develops

Tooth decay refers to the erosion of the external layers of your teeth. It occurs in response to acid in your mouth, and it most commonly found on teeth that are further back (as it is more difficult to clean them in an effective way, and so they are more likely to be coated with food residue). When food residue comes into contact with saliva and bacteria in your mouth, you will start to get a coating of plaque on your teeth. The bacteria found in this plaque will then produce acid, which erodes your tooth enamel until holes eventually begin to appear.

Causes of tooth decay

Unfortunately, it is not just bad dental hygiene or inconsistent brushing that can cause tooth decay. Specifically, you are more likely to suffer from tooth decay if you smoke, eat or drink things that are high in sugar, suffer from bruxism (i.e. grind your tooth), or have a dry mouth due to side effects of necessary medication or due to other health problems.

The symptoms of tooth decay

If you are going to avoid serious tooth decay and any associated complications (such as deep infections or the development of a major dental abscess), you will need to be vigilant about the common symptoms. Keep in mind that cases of tooth decay can cause the following.

• Toothache (this may be mild or moderate)
• Increasingly bad breath
• A persistent bad taste in your mouth
• Discoloured areas on a tooth (e.g. black, brown or dark grey)
• Loosened fillings
• An area of sensitivity (especially one that is responsive to hot or cold foods or drinks)
• Rarely, a hole that you can see in a tooth

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