We’ve all been there: you take a bite of something cold or sweet, and you feel that awful ache deep in your tooth. Then, the dread sets in: “a cavity” you think, “gosh darn it.”
If you have a toothache, even a little one, it can be easy to assume that it’s a cavity… especially if you’re never had one before. But a toothache alone doesn’t always signify a cavity. In fact, when a cavity first forms you likely won’t feel it at all.
How Does a Cavity Form?
A cavity occurs when a tooth’s enamel dissolves, which creates a small hole or fissure in your tooth, aka a cavity. When a cavity is beginning to form, it only affects the enamel of your tooth. Since the enamel doesn’t have any nerve endings, you won’t feel any pain.
Typically, the pain only starts when the cavity beings to grow. The second layer under your enamel, called dentin, is where your nerve endings are and where the pain comes from. You might notice the pain if you eat something hot or cold, or even simply when you bite down. However, sometimes pain occurs seemingly without cause, which can make it challenging to discern the root (pun intended) cause.
What to Look For
The reason it’s so hard to diagnose a cavity at home is that there are a variety of different factors that indicate a cavity, most of which are non-specific.
For example, “visible holes or pits” can be a sign that you have a cavity…but even cavity-free teeth can have natural holes or pits. So how do you diagnose cavities beyond a shadow of a doubt, and catch them before they’re more serious?
It’s a sobering fact: once bacteria and decay get through your enamel, the damage is already done — which means there’s no way to reverse the cavity. What you CAN do is treat it before it starts to cause permanent damage.
Cavity identification and treatment is one of the many services our dentists offer, and one of the many reasons why it’s vitally important to visit your dentist on a regular basis. During your checkup, he or she will be able to catch cavities before they become more serious.
Left alone, cavities can cause infection or tooth loss.
If you’re worried about the possible treatment required to deal with your cavity, we understand. There’s a lot of misconceptions around the process, even though it’s routine and performed daily in our offices. In fact, not all cavities require fillings, which is why we want to see you in person so we can determine the best course of action — and also, if that tooth pain you’re feeling is even a cavity at all!
If you’re thinking of ignoring that pain, we urge caution: left untreated, cavities can progress to the point of infection, called an abscess. Best case scenario, you need a root canal, and worst case the whole tooth may need to be removed.
If you think you might have a cavity, the best thing you can do is visit our office as soon as possible. We even offer Saturday and emergency appointments if your toothache just can’t wait, and we’re here to serve you safely with our CDC-recommended COVID-19 procedures.
Don’t ignore that toothache — let us help you treat it!