Tooth decay affects almost everyone. If you are one of the lucky ones unaffected by decay, consider yourself blessed. Almost everyone has had decay at one time in their lives.
Here are a few things I hate about tooth decay.
- Tooth decay is stinky. The openings into the tooth trap more bacteria and food debris which can cause bad breath and a foul taste.- Tooth decay is sneaky. You might not be aware that decay exists because there often is no pain or sensitivity. But like cancer, just because you don't feel it doesn't mean it's not there.
- Tooth decay hurts kids. Pain from tooth decay is one of the leading reasons that children miss school. In the last decade children experiencing decay has risen 28%. Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in children - five times more common than asthma.
- Tooth decay is expensive. Treating decay with fillings is costly but if not treated early on, more expensive procedures like root canals and crowns may be needed to restore the teeth.
- Tooth decay hurts adults. Many people who never had decay as children can get root decay as adults. This is due to a natural decrease in salivary function and increased use of medications which tend to dry out the mouth.
- Tooth decay is ugly. Who wants brown, gray or orange spots on their teeth?
- Tooth decay is on the rise. Soda is a leading culprit because of the acids it contains. The acid dissolves the enamel and then the sugar attacks the weakened enamel.
- Tooth decay is mean. It can affect one's ability to taste, chew, swallow, speak and even smile.
- Tooth decay spreads. One tooth with decay can pollute other teeth. People with active decay have high numbers of the decay causing bacteria which can in turn affect all their teeth.
- Tooth decay grows. A cavity that has penetrated the enamel layer of the tooth will continue to grow steadily and deeper into the tooth. The rate of growth depends on the individual and diet.
1. Soda is one of the worst products for teeth because of the way it erodes enamel. Diet soda is still bad for your teeth because it contains acids. Regular soda damages teeth even further by dumping all that sugar on top of eroded enamel.
2. Just because you feel no pain, it does not mean that you do not have any dental problems. People with diabetes and high cholesterol have no pain, but we all know those conditions can cause major health problems. It’s the same with your teeth; dental problems might not cause any pain until it is too late.
3. There really is no such thing as “soft teeth”. Teeth are all about the same degree of hardness. Some people do get more decay than others, but it has to do with the type of bacteria in their mouths and their food and drink choices more than anything else.
4. Studies show that the eyes are the first thing people notice about a person, teeth are second, and hair is third.
5. The radiation in a set of dental x-rays is very small. Using the oldest xray equipment around the dose is about 4 mrem. Many offices today use faster films or digital x-rays which reduce radiation by a factor of 30-75%, the average dose across the board being about 2 mrem per intraoral film. The average person gets about 360 mrem per year just from sources of radiation like food, flying, outer space, other people, cooking with natural gas, brick buildings, etc.
6. The bacteria that cause gum disease and cavities can be spread from mother/father to baby through saliva. If you have these conditions, it is best to not share eating utensils with children. If you taste your baby's food and feed him from the same spoon, you are putting him at risk.
7. If you want to reduce decay causing bacteria in your mouth, chewing xylitol gum helps. Check out labels though - the chewing gum with xylitol high on the ingredients list will be better for you.
8. Many parents think that baby teeth are not important because they fall out anyway. Baby teeth hold space for the permanent teeth and premature loss of baby teeth can lead to major orthodontic problems.
9. Mouthwash with alcohol is bad for oral tissues. Using it daily can put you in the same risk category for oral cancer as an alcoholic. Look for mouthwashes that do not have alcohol or use them less often.
10. Toothpaste alone can’t really whiten your teeth. It can remove minor surface stain with good brushing but if you want whiter teeth, you have to use a bleaching system.
