How to treat tooth decay without a cavity?

Written by Fang Xiao
Dentistry
Updated on March 31, 2025
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Once a cavity forms, there is definitely a cavity hole. It might appear that there is no hole on the surface, but the texture has already softened, forming a cavity hole; it's just that it has not been discovered by oneself. It can be seen by a doctor using an examination and can also be detected by taking dental X-rays. At this point, one should follow the treatment principles for cavities, which involve removing the decayed and necrotic material inside the cavity and then filling it with filling material. If it is an interproximal cavity, the decay inside can be removed via an X-ray and then filled. Some occlusal pit and fissure caries, which are relatively shallow, can be treated with topical fluoride medication. For cavities, it is important to detect and treat them early. Regular oral hygiene should be maintained, with brushing in the morning and evening, and rinsing after meals. If a cavity is not treated in time, it will become deeper and ultimately turn into a residual root, which will need to be extracted.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
55sec home-news-image

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 Wang Ji Zhong
Internal Medicine
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Does a cavity mean tooth decay?

The common term for dental caries is tooth decay. In the past, many people believed that tooth decay was caused by a kind of "tooth worm" that eroded the teeth, leading to tooth damage. In fact, it's the presence of a large amount of dental plaque and tartar on the teeth, and the erosion caused by numerous bacteria on these surfaces, which is what we now refer to as the phenomenon of caries, causing the teeth to turn black. Severe erosion can affect the enamel and dentin, and if it breaks through to the dental pulp, severe pulpitis can occur. When suffering from dental caries, it is essential to seek early treatment to remove the necrotic enamel and further prevent its progression.

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
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How long does it generally take for the pain from a cavity to ease when biting?

When patients experience some occlusal pain due to tooth decay, the time it takes for relief depends on the patient's inflammation levels and the treatment measures taken. If the patient receives timely treatment and effectively alleviates the inflammation, it generally takes about a week to heal and relieve the pain. If the patient does not undergo treatment, the condition may worsen and the pain may persist longer. Therefore, when a patient has tooth decay, it is best to visit a hospital for a consultation. Treatment should be administered based on the extent of the decayed tooth, and in severe cases of decay, tooth extraction might be necessary.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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How to brush teeth with cavities

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
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Will tooth decay affect the replacement of teeth?

Cavities can have a certain impact on tooth replacement. Cavities are a chronic progressive destructive disease caused by bacterial infection of the hard tissue of the tooth. If not treated in time, it may further develop, forming pulpitis or even apical periodontitis. Once it reaches the stage of apical periodontitis, it may form a gum abscess, or even swelling. During the process of new teeth eruption, they emerge outward through the position of the old tooth roots by absorbing the roots of the old teeth. If there is severe inflammation in the eruption pathway, it may lead to the destruction of the dental follicle of the new tooth, causing a developmental defect in the enamel of the new tooth. Therefore, it is possible that cavities can affect tooth replacement.