Cavities in Purcellville, VA

Hello, I'm Dr. Simren Singh, and I'm here to answer the most common questions that people have about cavities.

What are dental cavities?

Dental cavities are essentially holes in your teeth caused by sugar-loving bacteria. If they are not treated over time, they will get deeper and can cause symptoms like sensitivity or, worse, quite a bit of pain.

What causes cavities?

The cause of cavities is essentially bacteria. That sticky plaque around your teeth contains starches, sugars, and bacteria. The bacteria love to feast on these sugars, and, as a result, they produce acids that erode your tooth over time. If you want to avoid cavities, make sure you remove all of that plaque with daily brushing and flossing.

How does a dentist check for cavities?

The main way we first detect cavities is by looking at dental x-rays. These x-rays give us all the information to see what's going on in areas that we can't see with the naked eye. After taking dental x-rays, it's also important to perform an exam in the mouth to see if we visually detect any obvious cavities.

What are the stages of a cavity?

The first stage of a cavity is when you see a white spot, indicating that the enamel is starting to weaken. If not treated or reversed, it will start to go deeper, and that's when a hole begins to form in the tooth. As it gets deeper, it reaches the dentin, the second layer of the tooth, where you may start to feel some sensitivity. If it progresses further into the pulp or nerve of the tooth, that's when you start experiencing pain, which we want to avoid.

Can a cavity spread to other teeth?

Not directly like the flu, but here's the deal: an untreated cavity harbors bacteria that can jump to other teeth and cause more cavities. While a cavity is not contagious from tooth to tooth, bad habits and bacteria definitely are.