Based on oral health data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in four adults in the United States, 26% have untreated tooth cavities. 

Furthermore, 13 percent of children between the age bracket of 5 and 19 have undiagnosed dental decay and nearly half, 46 percent of individuals 30 and older, exhibit symptoms of gum disease.

According to studies, millennials disregard their dental health because they believe any harm may be fixed later. 

With the younger generation taking their dental health for granted, there is more risk of cavities. Therefore, it is better to know the cavity symptoms to avoid problems in future.

Today, in this blog, we will take you through the tooth decay symptoms for maintaining healthier smiles.

Understanding Dental Cavity 

Anyone can get cavities in their entire lifespan.

The cavity symptoms may start showing when microorganisms in the mouth generate acids that damage the enamel on your teeth. 

Cavity symptoms can be a small hole in the tooth or just a feeling of discomfort in the mouth. 

Delaying the treatment for cavity symptoms may lead to infection and even tooth loss.

During the childhood stage, this type of cavity is often known as baby bottle teeth decay. 

In this condition, the baby's front teeth have the most serious tooth decay, which slowly radiates to the back teeth.

It may cause other dental issues as well.

Known Causes of Cavity Symptoms

The acid that is created when decay-causing bacteria combine with sugars and starches from food and drink can attack tooth enamel and cause it to lose minerals.

The exposed root surfaces of older individuals' teeth are susceptible to symptoms of cavities.

Considering a large number of them have receding gums, which makes it possible for oral bacteria that cause decay to reach the tooth's root. 

When a tooth is exposed to acid on a regular basis when the consumption of sugary or starchy food is high, the enamel will continue to lose minerals and a white spot.

That is the first stage of tooth decay, known as initial demineralization.

That said, let's discuss the other four stages of tooth decay.

How Cavity Symptoms Advance: Stages of Tooth Decay

The tooth cavity symptoms start to become visible in the phase of tooth decay given below:

1.Initial Demineralization

This highlights the early cavity symptoms and indicates that the tooth loses the minerals.

At this stage, it is easier to reverse or prevent the cavity symptoms. 

When toothpaste contains fluoride and minerals from saliva, enamel can heal itself. 

Alternatively, a dentist or dental hygienist can apply fluoride. 

A cavity will ultimately appear in the enamel as it becomes weaker and eventually breaks down if more minerals are lost than can be replaced.

Cavity Symptoms in this Stage

• White spots

  2.Decay of Enamel

Enamel will deteriorate even more if tooth decay is allowed to continue. It's possible to observe a white patch on a tooth turning brownish.

You can start feeling sensitive. When having hot or cold meals or beverages, the individual may feel discomfort.

Cavity Symptoms in this Stage

• Holes 

• Teeth turning brown 

3.Pulp Necrosis 

The tooth's pulp is its innermost layer. It has blood vessels and nerves that support the tooth's health. 

Your tooth may enlarge once the decay has reached the pulp. Since your tooth can't expand along with the pulp, pressure will start to build up. Pulp death, sometimes referred to as pulp necrosis, is the final stage of pulp damage.​

Sensitivity to heat is not a sign in this phase of tooth decay.

Cavity Symptoms in this Stage

• The tooth's colour shifts from white to gray to black.

• Foul breath

• Swelling surrounding the tooth

• A strange taste on the tongue

• Intolerance for sugary meals or beverages

• Sensitivity to cold for brief periods of time

• Sharp pain 

• Tapping a tooth doesn't cause any sensation.

4.Decay of Dentin

The tissue underneath the enamel is called dentin. Because it is softer than enamel, acid damage might cause more damage to it. 

Consequently, when dental decay reaches the dentin, it spreads more quickly.

Additionally, dentin has tubes that connect to the tooth's nerves. This is why you may start to feel sensitive when tooth decay affects the dentin. 

Cavity Symptoms in this Stage

• Extreme tooth sensitivity 

  5.Formation of Abscess 

Bacteria enters the decaying pulp of the tooth at this stage of the disease, usually resulting in infection. 

Your tooth's root may eventually develop an abscess, which can cause excruciating pain that radiates throughout the rest of your mouth, gums, cheek, and jaw.

Cavity Symptoms in this Stage

• Severe gum or dental discomfort

• Redness either within or outside of the mouth, on the cheek or jaw

• Sensitivity to high-temperature food and beverages in the impacted area

• Unpleasant aftertaste

• Trouble opening your mouth to chew food

• Enlarged jaw or face

• Elevated body temperature

How Dangerous Is It To Ignore Cavities Symptoms 

Millennials can hide any dental issues with their teeth because of teeth-whitening filters on social media apps. Because of that, they delay dental care.

Cavities arise from the plague that sets up on the teeth because of improper cleaning. If people start neglecting the plague, it coagulates on the surface of the teeth.

That can cause gum irritation, and in the worst-case scenario, the individual can get gum disease. 

The bacteria that gradually take over the mouth have some horrible ramifications apart from tooth cavity symptoms, such as causing Peridontitis.

Here is what may happen if you overlook the cavity symptoms:

1.Sepsis 

It is a medical disorder that can arise when an infection caused by bacteria from an infected tooth travels to the blood. 

Sepsis is a blood infection that can happen to people with weakened immune systems, such as those getting treated at a hospital. 

Furthermore, elderly people and young children are also susceptible to Sepsis. 

Hence, people with low immunity should take cavity symptoms seriously. 

Signs 

• Exceedingly high body temperature

• Increased Heart rate

• Breathing issues 

• Blotchy skin

• Mental disarray

Patients may go into septic shock if their blood pressure drops too low. Not to mention, Sepsis causes 270,000 deaths worldwide every year. 

2.Meningitis 

Patients with cavity symptoms indicating abscess can get Meningitis, too.

This potentially fatal ailment arises from the inflammation of the membranes running throughout the brain and spinal cord. 

Your brain and spinal cord could be surrounded by this bacterial infection that enters the bloodstream. 

Meningitis may create reasons for people to get admitted to the hospital for a long time. Meningitis can affect young children and adults with weakened immune systems. 

It is a serious illness that can be lethal if left untreated.

Signs

Meningitis can have early symptoms that resemble the flu, such as the following:

• Headache 

• Nausea 

• Pain in the muscles

• High temperature

• Cold fingers and toes

  3.Ludwig's Angina 

Like the previous infection, this also occurs in people with abscessed teeth.

It causes swelling in the neck and the floor of the mouth. As a result, it becomes hard for a person to breathe.

That is an uncommon form of cellulite that appears mostly in the molar of the lower jaw. 

Sign

• Difficulty in speaking

• Fever 

• Jaw pain 

• Swollen tongue 

• Toothache 

Prevention of Cavity Symptoms 

If you don't want any tooth decay symptoms in your lifetime, you can make some lifestyle changes.

The precautionary measures for avoiding cavity symptoms are as follows:

1.Bushing with Punctuality

From childhood, everyone has heard the importance of brushing regularly twice a day.

Yet, in a survey, a majority of people, both men and women, confirmed that they brush once a day on average.

Brushing with a good toothpaste twice helps mitigate cavity symptoms.

2.Regular Dental Checkups

These days, a lot of people prefer to spend their money on entertainment, food, and other activities rather than visiting a dentist. 

That's the reason why the younger generation fails to preserve their natural teeth as they grow old. 

To prevent cavity symptoms and make the teeth last forever, devaluing the significance of dental care should be an option. 

With frequent dental visits, people can save up the money that is later spent on costly treatments that are a consequence of ignoring the cavity symptoms.

4.Eating Right

To stay away from cavity symptoms, make an effort to reduce the intake of sugar-rich foods and beverages. 

For instance, items like soft drinks, cookies, and candy shouldn't be a part of the daily meals.

5.Hydration

Drink tap water to keep your enamel firm and prevent it from showing tooth decay symptoms. 

Fluoride is a mineral that is present in most tap water. So, after eating a meal, you can even rinse your mouth with tap water.

6.Forget Snacking

Keeping your between-meal snack intake to a minimum will help prevent the bacteria in your mouth from converting more sugars into acids.

Most of the cavity symptoms are because of bad eating habits.

If you want to curb the temptation of it, try something else that is healthy for the bones, gums, and teeth, like fruits and vegetables.

7.Get Sealants 

The molars on the top of your back teeth are enveloped in a thin layer of plastic called a sealant. 

Although molars are necessary for chewing, food particles may get trapped in their grooves. 

So, by covering the molar's surface with a sealant, people can prevent cavity symptoms as well.

4 Treatments for Cavity Symptoms

The level of the intensiveness of dental treatment is decided by the severity of the cavity symptoms.

Here are the typical treatments for curing tooth decay.

1.Filling

A cavity filling treats a tooth with minor damage and is not at risk of breaking. 

The type of filler material used for your treatment will depend on your particular circumstances. 

There are various filling materials, such as Amalgam filling, gold, ceramic, and composite.

2.Crown

When the dentist can't perform filling treatment on the teeth, covering the broken teeth with a crown is the second option.

A crown serves as a covering for a tooth, guiding the biting forces away from the decayed area of the tooth and toward the stronger root structure.

It is manufactured from a range of materials, the selection of which depends on your particular circumstances.

Based on that, the pricing of the treatment differs. To know how much budget you want, go over How Much a Dental Crown costs in Toronto.

3.Root Canal 

When a tooth's decay reaches its pulp or nerve, the pulp starts to deteriorate and get infected, demanding its removal. 

To secure the tooth from the remaining parts of the body, a rubber-like substance is then placed into the channel within the root in which the nerve once resided. 

Crowns are required for teeth that require root canal therapy. That is due to a significant loss of tooth structure. 

It is such a common procedure that 89% of people are happy after treatment from an endodontist.

However, those scared of it can read our blog on tips to avoid root canals.

4.Extraction

If a tooth is too damaged to show positive outcomes after cavity treatments, it may need removal. 

A bridge, dental implant, or denture can be used to replace a tooth that is extracted. 

Approximately three in four people have had a tooth extraction treatment.

To get an idea of the cost, here is our blog on different orthodontic treatment pricing.

Related blog: 18 Things to Avoid After Tooth Extraction in Canada

FAQs 

Is pain one of the cavity symptoms?

No, it works differently for everyone. Some people have other tooth decay symptoms but not pain.

What are some foods that increase the risk of cavity symptoms?

Soda pops, sticky candies, and bread are among the most common food examples. You need to avoid sugary and starchy foods to keep decay at bay.

Can an infected person pass on the cavity symptoms?

The answer is yes and no. While tooth decay symptoms are not contagious, it is possible to get the bacteria that cause it by saliva transmission.

Closing Thoughts

Now that you have all the information about cavity symptoms, we will answer the most common question.

What is the step of dealing with cavity symptoms?

First, make sure that you follow good hygiene practices. You can inverse the early stages of tooth decay with them.

If you feel as if the condition is not getting any better, go to a reliable dentist for the best treatment.

At KWC Dental, patients can find an exhaustive list of options to improve oral health to halt the issue from causing grave issues.