When you’re looking to prevent cavities, you have to be mindful of foot cavities. About 18% of kids develop these but about 31% of adults have untreated ones. The decay gets more serious as you get older because there is a chance that it could develop root cavities, which are cavities that are on the root of your teeth.
How they Develop
Essentially, the cavity forms when the root is exposed, and a cavity creates a chance for bacteria to live in this.
Most cavities form when your diet feeds them bacteria, and you’re not taking care of your teeth to prevent it in the first place.
When it affects the root, it also hits the cementum, and then, this decays. The development of these is actually twice as quick as other cavities.
There are other factors that also contribute to this, including gum recession, where the guns start to recede out, and this is where the roots get exposed under the gumline, which of course is something that can affect the state of the gumline and the teeth involved too.
Who is At Risk
The ADA does note that it’s common for those who are over the age of 50 to have these, as this is something that happens as the teeth age and wear.
There is also the fact that usually it’s harder to take care of the teeth, but there is a lot more chances for gum recession now than there was before.
But the diet and the type of care that you offer for this is something that can help you reduce the risk of this. Older adults for example, do not have the dexterity that they used to, which is of course, what opens the door for a root cavity.
Other factors also might include if you smoke, or don’t brush your teeth. Most of the time, if you also drink alcohol a lot, or have a ton of sugar, you’re also at risk for the development of root cavities as well.
How they’re treated
The treatment for this is very similar to how you would treat other cavities. The dentist would detect these very early on, and then, they may use different means to prevent the further damage that comes from this.
Usually, they also work to try and reverse the damage too, including the utilization of fluoride, cleaning up the teeth, removal of plaque, and other sorts of treatments, depending on what you need.
Sometimes, you might need a root canal or an extraction too, especially if these get pretty serious. Your dentist will determine how they want to restore it, and then, when it’s time for you to get the restorations that you need, they’ll choose the process, and then from there, also set up a type of filling that you might need, such as an amalgam or other sort of filling too. They may also utilize composite resin too.
The best way to treat root cavities though is through prevention. This is something that’s very similar to other cavities and prevents them.
Do the following to prevent it:
- Brush twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste
- Clean between the teeth with floss or an interdental cleaner
- Limit the sugar you take in
- See your dentist for exams and cleanings
- Ask about fluoride treatments
If you notice your gums are receding, talk to your dentist to find out what you can do. By preventing this early on, you can take the time and effort necessary to prevent the cavities from getting much, much worse as well!
Oscar Dental Concepts 