Poor oral hygiene can result in plaque formation and cavities. With time, you will get cavities and tooth decay. Bacteria produce acids that eat out your enamel, exposing the inner tooth tissues. People with decayed teeth can have a bad breath. Many mask it with minty chewing gums or mouth fresheners.
While they can improve your breath, they are a short-term solution and do not prevent the dangerous consequences of living with a decayed tooth. Here are some of them:
Tooth Loss
If you fail to treat cavities at their earliest stage, you will suffer tooth loss. Mild cavities are easy to fix with dental fillings. However, extraction becomes the only solution for advanced tooth decay. The dentist will remove the rotten teeth as the best option to prevent transmission of the issue to the nearby teeth.
Gum Disease
The bacteria will migrate to the gums when they eat your tooth tissue. The rotting teeth roots infect your gums, causing gingivitis, which progresses to periodontitis. This condition can lead to long-term oral disability due to the damage of the oral soft tissue. Gum disease can also increase your Alzheimer's disease risks, brain inflammation, and neurodegeneration. All these conditions can be life-threatening.
Blood Infections
Bacteria from the decaying tooth can migrate to the blood and cause an infection. They can access your bloodstream via the vessels in the gum tissues. The decaying teeth also keep depositing some bacteria in your mouth. You are likely to swallow these deposits along with your saliva.
When it occurs longer, they blend and absorb into your blood via the digestive system. This leads to bacterial infections in your blood, which can cause other conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.
If you have signs of a decayed tooth, you should consider visiting a dentist. Do not wait for the condition to worsen. Visit our offices for a session with one of our dentists for a decayed tooth treatment plan.
Dentist Tigard, OR | Dental Blog - Lincoln Center Smiles Dr. Saklofsky has created an educational blog as a resource for our patients. If you like an article or the dental blog in general please share it to social media, then call (971) 317-9499 to make an appointment. Lincoln Center Smiles, 10500 SW Greenburg Rd, Suite 3, Portland, OR 97223-1406; (503) 598-0898; sakdental.com; 12/8/2024; Tags: dentist Tigard OR;