The consequences of not filling a hole in a tooth

Caries, which we usually call tooth decay or cavities, is caused by dental plaque, and sweet and greasy food is the culprit of tooth decay. If the tooth is damaged, it may develop into pulpitis and apical periodontitis, and may even cause alveolar bone inflammation. If caries is not treated in time and allowed to continue to develop, cavities will form. The cavities will gradually grow from small to large, eventually destroying the entire crown and ultimately causing the loss of the entire tooth.

1. What is tooth decay?

Tooth decay, sometimes also called tooth cavities, is scientifically known as dental caries. The main cause of its formation is dental plaque. Plaque is an almost colorless film on the surface of teeth that contains bacteria that cause tooth decay. After each meal, these bacteria in dental plaque react chemically with the sugars or starches in the food to produce acids that corrode the teeth. Over time, the enamel of the teeth will be destroyed, forming small, fragile cavities. If the condition continues to worsen, it will form cavities, which is called tooth decay.

2. The consequences of not filling the hole in the tooth

For cavities that have already formed, you must go to the dentist immediately and let the dentist take timely measures to fill the cavities and prevent them from getting worse. You must never have the idea of ​​just waiting and letting it go. The view that "toothache is not a disease" is not only wrong, but also delays treatment, causing tooth decay to worsen, tooth necrosis, and may also lead to more tooth decay. If the pain really reaches the stage where you can’t bear it anymore, sometimes even the dentist can’t help you. If you don’t fill a small hole, you will suffer from a bigger one. In severe cases, tooth decay can lead to tooth death and loss.

3. Dietary taboos for protecting teeth

1. Hard and rough food

Eating hard and rough food for a long time can easily wear out the teeth and gums. When chewing, it will vibrate the dental nerves, which can easily "awaken" the nerves in the caries and cause toothache. Eat less or try not to eat fried peanuts, fried broad beans, fried soybeans and other fried nuts, crude fiber vegetables such as bamboo shoots, leeks, raw carrots, etc., as well as fried pork chops, roasted lamb and other oily foods.

2. Wine

Wine contains alcohol, which can stimulate the dental pulp nerves and cause pain. If you have cavities, you should never drink alcoholic beverages. In addition, stimulant beverages such as coffee, cola, etc. have similar effects and should be avoided.

3. Acidic Foods

The formation of tooth decay is related to acidic foods. Acidic foods accumulate in the gaps between teeth, producing excessive lactic acid, which corrodes the tooth surface to form cavities. Therefore, acidic foods will increase the degree of tooth corrosion and aggravate the condition. After eating foods such as pomegranate, bayberry, and sour jujube, you must rinse your mouth to clean out food residues between your teeth.

4. Sweet and greasy food

Sweet and greasy foods are the main cause of acid production, especially sucrose, which is the culprit that causes tooth decay. If sugar is not cleared in time in the mouth, acid will be produced, which will cause necrosis and demineralization of the hard tissue of the teeth, erode the transparent substance on the surface of the teeth, and discolor the enamel.