How to brush teeth with cavities

Written by Li Bao Hua

Dentistry

Updated on December 31, 2024

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Cavities are a disease caused by bacterial infection of the hard tissues of the teeth, belonging to a type of self-destructive and infectious disease, and cavities need to be treated in a timely manner. When brushing teeth with cavities, it is especially important to brush thoroughly. Fluoride toothpaste can be used to clean each surface of the teeth, including the occlusal, buccal, lingual, and the insides of the teeth. Sometimes it is difficult for the bristles to reach the inside of the teeth, in which case an interdental brush or dental floss can be used to clean these areas to prevent the occurrence of cavities inside the teeth. Besides brushing, it is also necessary to fill the teeth promptly, also known as dental filling.

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Written by Li Bao Hua

Dentistry

1min 5sec

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Cavities that do not hurt still require root canal treatment.

Cavities that do not hurt may or may not require root canal treatment, depending on the extent of the decay. If the cavity has not reached the dental nerves, there will not be noticeable pain. In such cases, since the decay is relatively superficial, direct filling, or dental restoration can be performed without the need for root canal treatment. If the cavity is severe and has reached the dental nerves, causing the nerves to become necrotic and purulent, there will be no pain due to the loss of sensory function from nerve death. In these situations, root canal treatment is needed. This involves removing the infected dental nerves, followed by medicinal treatment of the root canal, and after the inflammation is controlled, filling of the root canal is performed. In other words, a painless cavity might actually be caused by necrosis and pus formation in the dental nerves, requiring root canal treatment.

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Written by Li Bao Hua

Dentistry

53sec

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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

Dentistry

55sec

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Can a cavity wait a month?

Cavities should be filled as soon as possible, through a treatment known as filling, and it is best not to delay. If a cavity could have been simply filled within a month, it might further become infected, causing inflammation of the dental nerve and leading to conditions such as pulpitis or apical periodontitis. Direct filling won't be possible; the tooth will need treatment before it can be filled. Cavities are a type of hard tissue decay caused by bacterial infection. If it's an adult's cavity, the progression is relatively slow and may only advance partially within a month, not reaching the dental nerve. However, in children, cavity progression is very rapid; if not promptly treated, severe dental nerve pain could occur within a month, necessitating further dental treatments.

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Written by Li Bao Hua

Dentistry

51sec

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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

51sec

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Can you get your teeth cleaned if you have cavities?

Cavities can also be treated with teeth cleaning. Firstly, a cavity is a type of dental caries, a tooth condition caused by tissue infection. Generally, it is accompanied by pain. Teeth cleaning is needed when there is a significant build-up of tartar around the teeth, which if not promptly cleaned, can lead to gingivitis and even periodontitis, potentially causing tooth loss. During cavities, teeth cleaning can be performed. However, teeth cleaning involves ultrasonic removal of tartar around the teeth. If the cavities are deep, the cleaning process may cause discomfort or severe pain. Therefore, it is necessary to treat the cavities first before proceeding with teeth cleaning to avoid significant pain during the cleaning process.