When we go to the dentist, we all ask the dreaded question: Do I have a cavity? Your dentist is always able to tell you during your visit, but what about between visits? How do you know if you have a cavity?
What, exactly, is a cavity?
Our mouths are full of bacteria, both good and bad. A cavity is a form of tooth decay that occurs when bad bacteria begins to destroy healthy tooth enamel. This bad bacteria feeds on sugars in the food we eat, converting it to acid that wears away teeth, opening up teeth to decay.
The early stages of cavity can be reversed with proper brushing and flossing, but if you don’t catch it early, there are some ways to identify a cavity.
How do you know if you have a cavity? Ask yourself these questions:
- What does it look like?
- What does my tooth feel like?
- How does my mouth taste?
- Does it hurt?
- Does my mouth smell?
What does a cavity look like?
Cavities may not be visible to the naked eye, or they may be located on a part of the tooth that is not easily seen. In between your teeth is a prime cavity hiding place, as trapped food particles begin the process of decay if not removed by proper dental hygiene.
If you can see a cavity, it may appear as a tiny brown spot on your tooth. This spot can range from the size of a pinprick to a dark place that encompasses a larger patch of tooth. Obviously, the smaller the spot, the smaller the cavity.
In advanced stages, small holes may appear in teeth, creating an actual cavity in the truest sense of the word. Again, these may be fairly small and hard to notice, or they may be more obvious.
What does a cavity feel like?
A dental cavity may not feel like anything, at first. Your tooth’s enamel doesn’t have any nerves, so when bacteria begins to go to work there is no feeling to be had at all.
It’s a different story as the cavity progresses. Depending on where on the tooth the cavity is forming, you may begin to feel more sensitivity to hot and cold food and drink. In some cases, sweet foods can trigger a mildly painful response as well. When a cavity reaches the soft pulp inside the tooth (the dental pulp), it begins to connect with nerves that can cause pain. Some people experience this less as true pain and more as discomfort.
Everyone will feel the beginning stages of a cavity differently, but at a certain point when the nerves get involved, a cavity will cause pain.
What do cavities taste like?
Cavities are a result of tooth decay. Imagine eating something that is starting to decay, and there you have it: the taste of a cavity. It’s not easy to imagine how a rotten thing tastes unless you have actually eaten something that was rotten, but you should know it when you taste it.
One of the ways this taste remains hidden until the decay is really progressing is that it occurs over time. You may not notice anything for a long time, as you will begin to get used to slight daily changes in the taste in your mouth as the decay gets worse. This is why the smell test may be a better way to tell if you have a cavity.
What do cavities smell like?
The short answer is simple: bad. Cavities smell bad.
They smell bad because the cavity is actually causing your teeth to rot, and decay of anything produces an unpleasant smell. Cavities do cause bad breath due to decay.
While everyone suffers from occasional bad breath, once a cavity begins to deepen, bad breath may be a semi-permanent fixture. Once the cavity is addressed, the bad breath should go away. Proper dental hygiene (and no more cavities!) will keep it away.
Do cavities hurt?
A cavity may not hurt in the beginning stages when bacteria first begins to eat away your tooth’s enamel. The only nerves in our teeth are actually inside the soft dental pulp.
Once tooth decay reaches the dental pulp inside the tooth, then yes, cavities can begin to hurt. Chewing on the affected tooth can produce pain that ranges from minor to excruciating, depending on the size and location of your cavity.
Are cavities contagious?
Surprisingly, yes, cavities are, in fact, somewhat contagious.
Researchers wondered why some very young children experienced a higher rate of cavity, even when their diets were not necessarily filled with acidic or sugary foods. Many studies have shown that the bacteria that causes cavity, mutans streptococcus, is highly contagious. Small children may get exposed to this bacteria from the kisses of loving parents or in other ways such as eating utensils, toothbrushes, and pacifiers that have been “washed off” with a quick dip in a caregiver’s mouth.
Limit the contagion by keeping toothbrushes, pacifiers, and eating utensils separate for each family member and not sharing.
Can cavities go away?
In the initial stages, the progress of a cavity can be halted and, in some cases, reversed, by diligent brushing and flossing. In many cases though, especially when you can begin to see, smell, taste, and feel signs of cavity, the only treatment is drilling out the decayed material and filling in the hole.
Working with an experienced dentist is your best option for finding the most appropriate treatment for you. How do you know if you have a cavity? By talking to a dentist and getting their expert help.
While these signs can tell you if you have a cavity, the only way to know for sure is to visit your Phoenix area dentist, Dr. Janne Lynch. Get in touch for a consultation today!
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