Tooth decay is painful and feared by everyone. Even though tooth decay is much rarer today than it was a few decades ago, many people are still subject to this disease. 

It is therefore particularly useful to know more about tooth decay in order to find out how it occurs, how to recognise it and how to prevent it so as to avoid having to treat the disease.

What is tooth decay ?

Caries is a dental disease. The causes are bacteria in plaque, sugary foods and poor oral hygiene. The disease damages the teeth, can be painful and even lead to tooth loss.

The disease is much rarer today than it was a few decades ago. The main reasons for this are that today more and more people use fluoride toothpastes and overall oral hygiene has also improved. So there are good ways to keep your teeth clean, healthy and prevent tooth decay.

What are the symptoms of tooth decay ?

When tooth decay occurs, whitish or brownish stains

initially appear on the teeth. As the disease progresses, holes appear on the

surface of the tooth. If deeper layers of the tooth are affected, the disease

also damages nerves and tooth roots. Tooth decay makes the teeth sensitive and

painful, especially when eating cold or sweet foods and drinks. Tooth decay can

damage teeth so severely that they have to be removed and replaced with a

bridge or implant, for example.

What causes tooth decay ?

Tooth decay usually

occurs when three factors come together: too much plaque, frequent sugar

consumption and poor oral hygiene.

Plaque covers the teeth like a film. It can be viscous to

the touch and is made up of bacteria, saliva and food remains.

The bacteria on the surface of the teeth are made up of food

scraps and the sugar they contain. This creates acid which attacks the tooth

enamel. If teeth are not cleaned or treated, the acid can gradually destroy

them. Caries bacteria can be transmitted through saliva.

Children are particularly prone to tooth decay because the

enamel of baby teeth is more sensitive than that of permanent teeth. Tooth

decay puts baby teeth at risk when a child eats or drinks a lot of sugary

things. In addition, brushing the teeth of babies or young children is not

always easy. The risk of tooth decay also increases when young children

regularly drink sugary drinks.

Your child can test the Y-Brush toothbrush to avoid tooth decay. Indeed, the Y-Brush toothbrush offers 3 modes of sonic vibrations including the intensive cycle which cleans much faster the dirt between the teeth as for example the sugar after having eaten a candy.

How is tooth decay prevented?

Children and adults can reduce their risk of tooth decay if they regularly brush their teeth with a toothpaste containing fluoride. Fluoride is a substance that strengthens tooth enamel and thus protects against cavities. Brushing also removes plaque containing bacteria and acids. It is recommended that you brush your teeth at least twice a day after meals.

Dentists recommend using a toothpaste containing fluoride as soon as the first baby tooth appears. Paediatricians, on the other hand, often recommend that infants be given fluoride daily in the form of tablets or drops. Teeth should then only be brushed with a little fluoride-free toothpaste. However, fluoride can have side effects, so you should be careful about how much you give your child and follow the dosage.

Diet is also important: people who eat foods low in sugar have a lower risk of tooth decay. In addition to sweets and lemonades, fruit juice and ketchup, for example, also contain a lot of sugar.

You can also simply brush your teeth with a toothbrush that will remove as much plaque as possible. An example of such a toothbrush is the Y-Brush.  Indeed, it removes 15% more plaque than a traditional toothbrush.

How is tooth decay diagnosed ?

Regular dental examinations are useful and recommended. They help to detect and treat tooth decay at an early stage.

Dentists usually recognise tooth decay by closely examining the teeth. In addition, an X-ray may be taken: this can be used to assess the stage of decay. An X-ray can also be used to determine the exact location of the decay, to check between teeth or under fillings for example.

Generally, if decay is not detected by a dentist, we detect it ourselves when we have tooth pain or sudden hypersensitivity in that area.

You can also try brushing your teeth with the Y-Brush nylon toothbrush which is much more effective than silicone. This will let you know if your teeth are hurting when you brush and start to remove the excess tart on your teeth.

How is tooth decay treated ?

The onset of tooth decay can be recognised by white or brown spots on the teeth. In this early stage, regular brushing with a toothpaste containing fluoride may be sufficient. Affected people can also have fluoride applied to their teeth as prescribed by a dentist.

If a cavity has already formed, it needs to be drilled and then filled to be filled. The filling can be plastic (composite), ceramic or metal. More damaged teeth can be preserved with a partial or full crown. Root canal treatment is usually suggested if the dental nerves are affected.

Sometimes tooth decay results in the need to remove a tooth. It can then be replaced later: by a bridge or by a dental implant with a fixed prosthesis.

In addition to these methods of treating tooth decay, there are new procedures that in some cases no longer require drilling. This includes, for example, the so-called caries infiltration, which can be used when tooth decay is detected early. With this method, the tooth is reinforced with plastic. In addition to your treatment, you can opt for a brushing package that will help you to better organise your tooth brushing and thus allow tooth decay to disappear much more quickly. The Y-Brush toothbrushing pack is recommended by dentists and clinically validated. The Y-Brush toothbrush contained in the pack All Inclusive is flexible. It is easy to insert into the mouth, making it easy to move from right to left when brushing.      

We hope that this guide has helped you understand how to treat your tooth decay so that you don't have to deal with this kind of oral problem again.