{"id":3739,"date":"2020-12-11T11:30:33","date_gmt":"2020-12-11T16:30:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.opencare.com\/blog\/?p=3739"},"modified":"2021-02-23T11:48:31","modified_gmt":"2021-02-23T16:48:31","slug":"tooth-cavities-causes-symptoms-and-treatment-options","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.opencare.com\/blog\/tooth-cavities-causes-symptoms-and-treatment-options\/","title":{"rendered":"Tooth cavities: Causes, symptoms, and treatment options"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 6<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

Did you know that <\/span>tooth decay<\/span><\/a> is the most prevalent oral disease globally, affecting 60 to 90% of schoolchildren and nearly 100% of adults? Cavity treatment is extremely important to your overall health.<\/span><\/p>\n

Considering these statistics and the fact that untreated cavities can lead to much more serious issues (as you\u2019ll soon learn), it becomes crucial to understand not only why this disease happens but what the symptoms are and how you can prevent it.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this article, we\u2019ll cover all of these questions about cavity treatment and even more, so keep reading to learn everything you need to know about tooth decay!<\/span><\/p>\n

What Is a Cavity?<\/b><\/h2>\n

A cavity is a result of plaque bacteria breaking down sugar in your tooth, which leads to the creation of damaging acids and, as a result, the softening of the tooth enamel \u2014 that is, the outermost layer of the tooth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In other words, cavities happen when a tooth starts decaying (hence why it is also referred to as tooth decay), creating injured areas in its hard surface, which ultimately turn into small holes.<\/span><\/p>\n

If left untreated, these holes can grow larger and even end up destroying the entire tooth.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Does a Cavity Look Like?<\/b><\/h2>\n

During its initial stages, a cavity can be difficult to spot without a professional (which is why paying attention to the common cavity symptoms, which we\u2019ll get into soon, is crucial).<\/span><\/p>\n

However, as time goes by, you\u2019ll start noticing the visible signs of tooth decay, which are:<\/span><\/p>\n