What Causes A Cavity on the Front Teeth?

We are taught from a very young age that brushing and flossing our teeth to prevent cavities is a necessity. Let’s be honest- tons of people get cavities on the tops of their molars (back teeth). Cavities are so common due to the fact that the nooks and grooves on your teeth that acids and foods can hide within, make it hard to clean them appropriately.

Yet, cavities on front teeth are absolutely possible, even if less common. If you do not take care of your oral hygiene properly, you might be a victim of cavities on one or more teeth all through your mouth. Let’s go ahead and take a look at what leads to cavities on the front teeth and how they can be corrected.

Dentist in Albania illustrating tooth decay.

What Are Cavities?

Cavities are long-lasting harmed sites of a tooth coming as a result of tooth decay on the hard surface of the teeth. They are a huge part of the world’s most common health issues, particularly in children and teenagers.

The process of cavity creation happens over time. Firstly, dental plaque starts creating on the surface of the tooth. Plaque is a clear, sticky film that gathers up from the intake of too much sugar and starch and improper cleaning. When left on the surface, bacteria begin feeding on the sugars to form plaque. When plaque stays on the teeth for a long period of time, it hardens and becomes tartar.

Tartar can be quite difficult to remove, and the acids within it wear away on the tooth’s outer enamel. Such erosion leads to small openings or holes in the tooth. When left untreated, tartar can attack the next layer found underneath, namely, the dentin. Dentin is a soft layer that contains tubes that communicate with the nerve of the tooth.

At this junction, a cavity becomes painful and uncomfortable, particularly if you consume cold or hot foods or drinks. If the ruining of the tooth proceeds, acid, and bacteria can then reach the inner layer of the tooth, the pulp. This can, of course, be very painful, even more, so if the pain extends to the bone beyond the tooth root.

Cavities are most usually on the molar, you know, the teeth in the back of your mouth used thoroughly to chew food. The crevices and grooves on these teeth make it typically simple for bacteria to start building up. Nevertheless, this does not mean that a cavity cannot be formed on the front teeth.

Causes of Cavities on the Front Teeth

  • Lacking brushing and flossing
  • A great deal of sugary or acidic foods or drinks
  • Vaulting routine dental check-ups

Though less likely to happen than cavities on the back molars, people can be victims of cavities on their front teeth. Take a look below at the most usual reasons why this occurs:

Inadequate brushing, a cause for tooth decay.

Inadequate Brushing And Flossing

Appropriate oral hygiene is among the most amazing defenses against dental cavities or caries. Though properly flossing and brushing can aid you in avoiding them, a report from research has shown that approximately 91% of grown-up people between the ages of 20 and 65 have had at least one cavity.

Though you might floss and brush, the question is, are you doing it right? For brushing the recommendation is to spend two minutes scrubbing the gross bacteria two times a day. Ensure using a soft-bristled toothbrush so you do not wear away the enamel, and additionally ensure using toothpaste that contains fluoride, a natural mineral that solidifies the teeth and can aid in preventing cavities.

Furthermore, make sure to use small circular motions on all teeth whenever you brush. Get near the gum line, and give the front teeth the same amount of love you give to your back teeth. Numerous people brush their teeth, but a really low percentage of them actually floss. Flossing should be done at least once a day for two to three minutes, but optimally, you should be flossing after each meal.

Flossing helps in the removal of the particles found between the teeth, particles brushing can’t really catch. This means, flossing aids in preventing the bacteria from breaking down such particles and wearing away the tooth enamel. Treating your teeth right takes a maximum of ten minutes out of your day, and it is undoubtedly worth it. By sustaining good dental hygiene, you can save a lot of time and headaches (and toothaches).

Sugary food, a cause of tooth cavities.

Too Many Sugary Or Acidic Foods Or Drinks

Every person enjoys a full glass of Pepsi or a warm cup of tea every now and then. Yet, such beverages are extra acidic, and they can speed up the cavity-creating process by sticking to your teeth for a long amount of time.

Sugary drinks and foods such as sugar, honey, ice cream, mints, dry cereal, soda, chips, and cream itself are all highly likely to lead to decay since they can resist being washed away by saliva.

If you are going to make some of these parts of your diet, make sure it is in moderation, and take into account brushing your teeth after consuming them to get rid of the damaging acids.

Skipping Regular Dental Check-Ups

Going to the dentist at least two times a year doesn’t necessarily sound like an intimidating duty from the onset. Yet, it is easier said than done. It should be noted, however, that visiting the dentist’s office for the bi-yearly check-up appointment is required to prevent cavities from happening or catch them at their early stages.

Dentists can easily notice the early symptoms of a cavity, like an early erosion of enamel. If such symptoms are recognized before it is too late, the dental practitioners might be able to reverse the caries from getting to a state where it’d need a filling. Furthermore, routine dental check-ups can reinforce the teeth to aid in the prevention of cavities from creating in the near future.

Dental filling for treating tooth decay.

How to Treat Cavities on the Front Teeth?

The cavities’ treatment on the front teeth is similar to the treatment of cavities on other teeth- a dental filling. Seeing its position in the mouth, the kind of filling, however, is a tiny bit different.

Rather than employing silver or gold-colored amalgam fillings, dentists choose to suggest composite resin or porcelain. These though, aren’t that durable, and will need replacement from time to time. Nevertheless, they are much less noticeable and have the ability to match the original teeth flawlessly.‍

How Does a Cavity Filling Work? 

  1. The procedure starts with the dentist drilling away at the infected region of the tooth, getting rid of the debris and bacteria to inhibit further harm.
  2. After the cavity is drilled out and there is a hole created, a filling material will be placed inside the hole by the dentist.
  3. Next, the filling material will be bonded to the tooth with the use of a specific device that utilizes blue lighting to aid in attaching the material to the tooth.

Such a procedure assists the resin in staying in place without popping off from talking, chewing, or anything similar. Dental fillings aren’t typically painful or uncomfortable, and there is no healing period following them. Whilst you may feel a little sensitive, you should be capable of returning to drinking and eating normally from the very second you get out of the dentist’s office.

Regular dental check-ups  for preventing tooth decay.

How to Prevent Cavities?

The prevention of cavities is quite simple. The most appreciated method is oral hygiene. Particularly, ensure to supplement your routine with fluoride.

Fluoride is a natural mineral that is released from rocks into the water, air, and soil. There’s a wrong belief that fluoride is a chemical additive, but it is fully a natural element that is of extreme importance for oral health.

Whilst the majority of all water contains fluoride, it is still not enough for fighting tooth decay. The intake or employment of fluoride mouthwashes and toothpaste can aid in preventing tooth decay by strengthening enamel. An oral hygienist may have to do a fluoride treatment whenever you visit them for this precise reason.

You should always understand that foods that contain acids should be avoided, but also food goods for your teeth must be part of your diet. Calcium-rich cheese, yogurts, and milk can strengthen bones all through the body, teeth included. Additionally, phosphorus found in nuts, lean meats, and eggs is amazing for oral health.

In Conclusion

Cavities aren’t any fun. Even more so when they are on the molars, even though they are discrete and subtle. Whenever cavities are found in the front teeth, they can be a little more conspicuous and annoying. The good news is that they are easily treatable when caught in the initial stages, similar to a regular cavity.

Front teeth cavities are caused by the very same causes: acidic foods, poor oral hygiene, and skipping routine dental check-ups. They can additionally come as a result of an absence of fluoride, a natural solidifying mineral that can aid in strengthening the enamel and preventing the erosion that causes tooth decay. 

The treatment alternatives for front tooth cavities are similar to the ones for molar cavities. Dental fillings that are composed of composite resin that blends into the white part of the tooth are suggested over gold or silver amalgam, simply because they are much more low-key in comparison.‍

Table of Contents