What are the harms of dental caries in children?

Written by Wang Ji Zhong
Internal Medicine
Updated on January 04, 2025
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Due to not forming the habit of brushing daily during childhood, and the frequent consumption of sugary foods during this period, the incidence of dental caries in children is relatively high. The onset of the disease is due to the presence of a large amount of dental plaque on the teeth, where bacteria gradually corrode the teeth, leading to the occurrence of caries. Initially, caries damage the tooth enamel on the surface, further progress destroys the dentin, and finally, it penetrates the dental pulp, forming pulpitis, which presents with obvious swelling and pain. Severe cases can also cause periapical periodontitis, leading to tooth loss, and affecting the normal emergence of permanent teeth. Therefore, it is important to maintain good oral hygiene and seek timely symptomatic treatment when children develop dental caries.

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Can tooth decay heal by itself?

Cavities are a type of dental hard tissue defect caused by bacterial infection, and represent a chronic, progressive, destructive disease. In the early stages of a cavity, if only the enamel layer is involved with simple demineralization of the tooth, then remineralization treatment can be conducted. This scenario is the only reversible one where the cavity can heal itself. If the cavity progresses to the dentin layer, then it cannot heal by itself and requires timely intervention by drilling to remove the decayed part and performing a filling treatment. If the infection is not controlled in time, bacteria can further cause the dental nerve to become purulent and necrotic, leading to symptoms of pulpitis or apical periodontitis. In such cases, timely root canal treatment is necessary.

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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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Can a cavity that exposes the dental pulp be filled?

Cavities that expose the dental pulp cannot be directly filled in one session. Treatment of the tooth must be carried out before filling. In the early stages of a cavity, only the hard tissue of the tooth is damaged. If the decayed part is removed promptly and the dental nerve is not exposed, the tooth can be directly filled in one session. However, if the cavity progresses to the point where the dental pulp, or nerve, is exposed, this requires a nerve removal procedure. After the nerve is killed, the root canal is sealed with medication, and following inflammation control, the root canal is filled. Only after root canal treatment can the tooth be filled. Otherwise, the inflammation may further develop into apical inflammation, or even lead to space infections causing facial swelling.

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Is tooth decay a contagious disease?

Cavities occur due to a large amount of dental plaque and tartar on the teeth, which erodes the teeth over time, causing damage to the enamel and dentin. This results in the appearance of black spots, black patches, and cavities. However, cavities are not contagious because there are always a large number of bacteria in the mouth due to eating and other reasons, so it is important to develop good brushing habits and the correct technique. Although brushing can remove some dental plaque, its effect is limited. It is best to undergo dental and gum cleaning treatments to significantly improve the removal of dental plaque and eliminate the harm of cavities to the human body.

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What should I do about bad breath caused by dental caries?

If a patient is suffering from dental caries that have already caused bad breath, the situation requires active treatment targeting the dental caries. Due to the ease with which food residue and bacteria can accumulate in cavities, this will cause an odor in the mouth. Initially, it is essential to clear out food debris, bacteria, and any decayed material from the cavity. If the cavity is shallow, it can be directly filled with light-cured resin material. After the cavity is filled, the patient's bad breath symptoms should be alleviated. However, if the cavity is deep, it should first be treated with a pulp-protecting base before filling. If the dental nerve is affected, causing pulpitis, root canal treatment must be conducted first.