Do cavities have worms in them?

Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
Updated on September 10, 2024
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Cavities do not contain worms; they are caused by bacterial infections and are a type of infectious disease. Cavities are also known as dental caries, and many people mistakenly believe they are caused by worms chewing on the teeth, but this is not the case. Cavities occur when bacterial infections attack the hard tissues of the teeth, leading to destructive dental diseases. It is also a chronic infectious disease. Cavities are caused by bacterial factors, meaning bacteria are the initial factor in their development. Bacteria can use glucose to produce lactic acid, causing demineralization of the teeth and thus forming cavities. If one brushes their teeth and rinses their mouth immediately after eating to control dental plaque, the development of cavities can be controlled or slowed. If not controlled in time, cavities may further lead to pulpitis.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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How to prevent dental caries

Cavities are a destructive disease caused by bacterial infection of the hard tissues of the teeth. The first step in preventing cavities is to understand the causes and implement basic prevention measures. Firstly, the condition is associated with bacterial infection, and controlling dental plaque through effective brushing can help. Data shows that dental plaque can easily reattach to teeth within eight hours after brushing. Therefore, it is recommended to brush your teeth twice a day, in the morning and evening. Some people are accustomed to brushing at night and just rinsing in the morning; however, this practice is incorrect as effective brushing helps control the accumulation of dental plaque. Secondly, diet plays a role, with sugary foods, especially sucrose, being particularly conducive to cavities. It is advisable to reduce the intake and frequency of sugar consumption. Additionally, effectively supplementing calcium can help prevent inherent enamel hypoplasia of the teeth. If the mother experiences calcium deficiency during pregnancy, there is also a higher risk of cavities.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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How to treat children with dental caries?

To treat cavities in children, first, the extent of tooth decay needs to be assessed. If the decay is mild, the decayed part can be removed and directly filled. If the decay is severe enough to inflame the dental nerve, an X-ray of the tooth is required. If it is a deciduous tooth that is about to fall out soon and is not worth saving, treatment might be unnecessary. However, if the tooth root has not been absorbed and the permanent tooth will take a long time to erupt, root canal treatment can be considered. In cases where a young permanent molar is decayed and the nerve is infected, a vital pulpotomy should be performed to preserve the living pulp and promote further development of the tooth root.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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Can cavities spread to other teeth?

Cavities are a disease caused by bacterial infections of the hard tissues of the teeth, and they are infectious but not contagious. If cavities are not treated in a timely manner, the inflammation can further infect the dental nerves, causing nerve inflammation, and even lead to damage in the apical region of the tooth. Damage to the apical region of a tooth may also lead to damage in the apical region of adjacent teeth due to inflammation. This situation can spread to other teeth, but it is limited to the stage of apical inflammation. If it is just a simple cavity, where decay is confined to the crown area of a tooth, it will not spread to other teeth. Therefore, once a tooth decays, it is necessary to carry out dental filling treatment as soon as possible.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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Can tooth decay be cured?

Cavities are a type of destructive dental hard tissue disease caused by bacterial infections and are also a chronic progressive infectious disease. Cavities can only improve through early and effective intervention and treatment; otherwise, the condition may develop further, leading to pulpitis or apical periodontitis. Severe cases can also cause systemic symptoms such as space infections, and some may lead to bacteremia or sepsis. In the early stages of development, cavities have no clinical symptoms. At this stage, filling the cavity is painless. If the decay progresses to reach or approach the dental nerve, filling the cavity can then cause widespread pain. If it reaches the dental nerve, it cannot be directly filled in one go; it requires dental treatment for improvement.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
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Do children's cavities need treatment?

Whether children's dental caries need treatment may require taking X-rays of the teeth, or it can be judged based on the child's age. If a child around seven or eight years old has decay in the front teeth, these teeth can soon be replaced, and treatment may not be necessary. However, if the molars at the back, which are replaced at around twelve or thirteen years of age, are decayed, then it is necessary to treat these early by removing the decay and filling the teeth. Otherwise, bacteria may further infect the dental nerves, causing pain. If children's dental caries are not timely treated, it can also affect chewing. During childhood, the jawbone undergoes significant development. If the chewing function is impaired, it can affect the development of the jawbone, hence early treatment of children's dental caries is essential.