Early Intervention For Tooth Decay

Taking care of your smile is a lifelong process, and certainly, one that could benefit from an upgrade or two from time to time. While it may be protected by a sturdy layer of dental enamel, it is important to keep in mind that enamel is not indestructible. In other words, once it is gone it is gone for good, and there is nothing stopping dangerous bacteria, germs, and infections from wreaking havoc on your structures. In today’s blog, your Houston, TX dentist takes a look at the way tooth decay influences your oral health, and how your smile can benefit from a dental filling.

A Common Bacterial Concern

It goes without saying that your smile, among everyone else’s, is constantly under the scrutiny of various oral health threats and concerns. For instance, bacteria are present in every smile and ridding them completely is virtually impossible. With that in mind, we must take strides to practice regular dental prevention in order to keep our grins healthy and strong.

In addition to bacteria, our oral health can be influenced by any number of concerns, including gum infection, physical injuries, dental emergencies, and even non-traditional sleep issues. While the sky is the limit in terms of dental concerns, it goes without saying that the most common of the bacteria-related issues is tooth decay.

You see, tooth decay occurs when bacteria lurk in the hard-to-clean areas of the mouth and feed off of particles from food we consume. With sugars, in particular, bacteria produce a destructive acid that eats away at your enamel and into the tooth. To learn more about this process and how our team can help, give us a call today.

What to Expect from Treatment

In its earliest stages, tooth decay may present as a small hole in a tooth known as a cavity. The problem arises, however, in that it will only get worse over time. In fact, the infection itself will work its way into the inner portion of your tooth, where it will damage your sensitive nerves and cause discomfort, sensitivity, and pain.

It is always best to treat a cavity as soon as possible, and our team recommends the use of a dental filling. This process involves cleaning the affected area and filling the open hole with a composite resin material. Contact our team to learn more today.

Prioritizing Your Oral Health

At the end of the day, your oral health is of the utmost importance when seeking dental care. Decay occurs on a spectrum and sometimes requires more extensive treatment, depending on the developmental stage.

Learn More Today

Contact Sue Ellen Richardson, DDS in Houston, TX by calling 713-796-9600 to learn more about the need for dental fillings and other forms of restorative care, and schedule your next appointment with our team today.