Can cavities spread to other teeth?

Written by Li Bao Hua

Dentistry

Updated on September 10, 2024

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Cavities are a disease caused by bacterial infections of the hard tissues of the teeth, and they are infectious but not contagious. If cavities are not treated in a timely manner, the inflammation can further infect the dental nerves, causing nerve inflammation, and even lead to damage in the apical region of the tooth. Damage to the apical region of a tooth may also lead to damage in the apical region of adjacent teeth due to inflammation. This situation can spread to other teeth, but it is limited to the stage of apical inflammation. If it is just a simple cavity, where decay is confined to the crown area of a tooth, it will not spread to other teeth. Therefore, once a tooth decays, it is necessary to carry out dental filling treatment as soon as possible.

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Written by Huang Kun Mei

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How to treat cavities in 3-year-old children?

If a three-year-old child has cavities, it is necessary to go to the pediatric dentistry department promptly for cavity removal treatment. Depending on the severity of the child's cavities, if it is severe, the child may need to have teeth extracted. If it is mild, the child will need to have fillings. It is important to pay attention to the dental care of the child. Make sure the child brushes their teeth morning and evening, rinses their mouth after meals, avoids drinking carbonated beverages, eats fresh vegetables and fruits, and drinks formula milk to enhance nutrition.

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Is it normal to have pain after filling a cavity?

Mild pain after filling a cavity is normal. This is often seen when glass ionomer materials are used for fillings. Glass ionomer materials expand in volume within 24 hours of mixing, which can stimulate the dental nerves and cause pain. However, the pain should gradually decrease or disappear after 24 hours. If there is severe pain after the filling, it may be due to the filling material being too high or the tooth decay being too deep, reaching the dental nerves and causing nerve pain. This situation is abnormal and requires root canal treatment.

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Written by Li Bao Hua

Dentistry

59sec

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Do cavities have worms in them?

Cavities do not contain worms; they are caused by bacterial infections and are a type of infectious disease. Cavities are also known as dental caries, and many people mistakenly believe they are caused by worms chewing on the teeth, but this is not the case. Cavities occur when bacterial infections attack the hard tissues of the teeth, leading to destructive dental diseases. It is also a chronic infectious disease. Cavities are caused by bacterial factors, meaning bacteria are the initial factor in their development. Bacteria can use glucose to produce lactic acid, causing demineralization of the teeth and thus forming cavities. If one brushes their teeth and rinses their mouth immediately after eating to control dental plaque, the development of cavities can be controlled or slowed. If not controlled in time, cavities may further lead to pulpitis.

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Written by Fang Xiao

Dentistry

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If the cavity doesn't hurt, does that mean it hasn't reached the nerve?

It is necessary to make judgments based on the patient's symptoms and examination results. Dental caries refers to the chronic, progressive, destructive disease occurring in the hard tissues of the teeth under the influence of various factors such as plaque bacteria. Whether dental caries is painless or has reached the nerve, the simplest clinical method is to judge based on the patient's symptoms, asking whether the patient experiences pain. In the early stages, there are only changes in the color and texture of the tooth, which do not cause pain. In the later stages of the disease, due to necrosis of the dental pulp, pain may not occur. At this time, diagnosis can be assisted by dental films; an X-ray can show the low-density shadow produced by the caries, and whether this low-density area significantly erodes into the dental pulp, which is also an auxiliary diagnostic method. Therefore, it is important to maintain oral hygiene, brush teeth morning and evening, and rinse mouth after meals.

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Written by Li Bao Hua

Dentistry

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The concept of dental caries

Cavities, also known as dental caries or tooth decay, are caused by bacterial infection that damages the hard tissues of the teeth. Once cavities occur, it is essential to intervene with dental treatment as soon as possible. Strictly speaking, cavities represent a bacterial infection caused by the failure to remove food residues timely after eating. Bacteria break down glucose, producing lactic acid, which causes demineralization of the teeth. Once cavities occur, it is crucial to undergo dental filling treatment promptly, commonly referred to as dental restoration. If the progression of decay is not promptly halted, it can lead to further complications over time, including pulpitis which causes toothache or night pain, pain during sleep intense enough to wake one from sleep, and in severe cases, facial swelling.