Taking care of your smile is a lifelong process, and one that could likely benefit from an update. Indeed, failing to properly care for your teeth can lead to minor complications such as cavities, as well as major concerns such as losing one or more permanent teeth. Though you may take the necessary strides to keep your smile protected, it only takes a few missteps for decay to set in. In today’s blog, your Houston, TX dentist explains what happens when you develop a cavity, as well as how a filling can help.
Understanding Dental Decay
Whether you are aware of it or not, bacteria are present in every smile. Though you may be actively brushing and flossing as you should, it does not mitigate the fact that ridding the mouth of all bacteria is virtually impossible. As a result, developing an effective preventive dental routine and cleaning your oral teeth regularly is essential for lifelong oral health.
When bacteria are left unchecked, they lurk in the hard-to-reach areas of the mouth and feed off of the sugars from foods you consume. As they feed, the sugar causes them to produce a destructive acid that begins to weaken your oral structure until it has finally eaten a hole in it. This is known as a cavity. Without timely treatment, the hole can continue to get larger and larger until it has compromised your tooth entirely, resulting in the need for a dental extraction.
How A Filling Helps
To prevent premature tooth loss due to decay, your dentist may recommend to address your cavity with a filling. During this process, our team will carefully but thoroughly clean the affected tooth so as to rid the cavity of bacteria. Once this has occurred, we will apply a composite resin material to fill the gap and cure it using a special light. After your dentist evens out your bite, you are all set! Contact our office to learn more today.
Improving Your Oral Health
Though a cavity may develop a time or two in your lifetime, it is always important to have the issue treated sooner rather than later. A cavity is not the end of the world, but allowing it to get worse until it has compromised a tooth entirely will certainly complicate your oral health greatly. Stay on top of your smile’s health with annual checkup and cleaning visits, and make sure to practice preventive care regularly at home.
Schedule Your Appointment Today
Dental decay will only continue to worsen the longer it is left untreated. Contact MMC Dental in Houston, TX by calling 713-926-8896 to learn how a dental filling can treat a cavity and mitigate the spread of decay.