Second only to the common cold, dental
caries, or dental decay is a disease that will cause damage to the structure of
a tooth or teeth. Cavities, which are spaces or hollowed out holes, are the
most noteworthy consequences of decay. If dental caries remain untreated, they
can cause pain, the loss of the decayed tooth or death. In the most extreme
dental decay cases, an infection can eventually enter your brain through the cavernous
sinus, which is the air cell behind your eye.
If you take care of your cavities, drilling
and filling is all you will have to deal with, however, without proper dental
treatment, those dental caries can affect your speech, diet and your overall
quality of life. If left unfilled that simple cavity may require root canal
therapy as well.
Tooth decay is a worldwide epidemic that is
costly, painful, and most importantly, preventable. Oral diseases cause
disability and pain for millions of people all over the United States every
year, with oral diseases ranging from cavities to oral cancer.
Dental decay starts early with dental caries
affecting over a quarter of children in America between the ages of two and
five with more than half affecting adolescents to teens ages twelve to fifteen.
Hardest hit are children who come from low-income homes. In addition to
dysfunction and pain, cavities that are left untreated can cause school
absences, a lack of social interactions, poor appearance, and low weight. All
of these problems could reduce the capacity to lead a successful life.
However, kids and teens are not alone as
tooth decay affects approximately 90 percent of adults over the age of 40. Even
more shocking is that over one quarter of American adults over 60 have lost
every single tooth, primarily because of tooth decay.
Don’t become a
statistic. Schedule regular dental checkups for your entire family, practice
good oral health habits, and a diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables and
you will have a heads up when it comes to tooth decay. Call your dentist for an
appointment today.
