Cavities originate from PLAQUE, a white-yellowish film deposits on teeth. It is a combination of bacteria, food residues and saliva.
Plaque sticks to the teeth, bacteria present in it transforms the sugars present in food into ACIDS, which first attack the outer layer of the tooth (the enamel) and then proceed to the underlying layer (the dentin), forming first a superficial cavity, then proceeding deeper inside the tooth. A tooth attacked by cavities almost NEVER heals on its own.
Proper oral hygiene and limiting sugar intake decrease the progression of the disease.
If cavities are NOT treated at this stage, they progresses; a tooth becomes SENSITIVE to heat, cold and sweet foods. Cavities can then reach the innermost part of the tooth (the dental pulp) and cause inflammation, which is often very painful and can lead to tooth DEVITALIZATION (killing the tooth).
Cavities are cured by removing tooth decay and reconstructing what has been lost with a resin filling, a resistant material that is aesthetically very similar to the color of the tooth.
This occurs both for deciduous (milk) teeth and for permanent teeth. In milk teeth, also the pulp of the tooth can degrade more quickly, and very often the affected teeth must be devitalized.
