Tooth Decay in Timonium, MD: How to Stop It Early

Tooth decay starts quietly. Bacteria in plaque feed on the sugars and starches you eat and produce acids that slowly dissolve tooth enamel. Caught early, decay can often be stopped or repaired with a small, tooth-colored filling. Left alone, it works its way deeper, toward the nerve of the tooth, where the fix becomes a crown, a root canal or even losing the tooth.

Whatever you call your teeth, chompers or pearly whites, the goal is the same: keep them healthy for life. This guide explains how tooth decay develops, who is most at risk as an adult, how it is found early and prevented without fluoride, and how it is treated at the Timonium, MD office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS.

How tooth decay starts

Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on your teeth every day. Each time you eat or drink something with sugar or refined starch, those bacteria produce acid. Enamel can recover from an occasional acid attack, but frequent snacking, sipping sweet or acidic drinks and plaque left behind after brushing give the acid more time to work.

Decay is most likely to start in places that are hard to clean:

• The pits and grooves on the chewing surfaces of back teeth
• Between teeth, where a toothbrush can’t reach
• Along the gumline, and on root surfaces exposed by receding gums
• Around the edges of old fillings and crowns

The stages of tooth decay

Early enamel changes

The first sign is often a chalky white or brownish spot where minerals have been lost from the enamel. There is no hole yet, and there is usually no pain. This is the stage where strengthening the enamel and improving daily habits can make the biggest difference.

A cavity in the enamel

If the process continues, the weakened enamel breaks down and a cavity forms. A cavity doesn’t heal on its own, so it needs a repair. At this stage, that repair is usually small.

Decay reaches the dentin

Beneath the enamel is dentin, a softer layer that decay moves through more quickly. Many people first notice sensitivity to cold, sweets or biting at this point. The repair is larger, and a tooth with a lot of structure lost may need an inlay, onlay or crown.

Infection reaches the pulp

The pulp inside the tooth holds its nerves and connective tissue. When decay and infection reach it, the result is often a severe, lingering toothache. Root canal therapy can save the tooth, and an abscess can form if it isn’t treated. Abscesses don’t always hurt, but bacteria can spread through the jaw and cause swelling, which can become life threatening. If your tooth hurts and your face is swelling, call right away. See emergency dental care.

Who gets tooth decay as an adult?

Cavities are not just a childhood problem. Decay rates increase with age, and several things raise an adult’s risk:

• Medications and dry mouth. Saliva helps wash away food and neutralize acid, and medications and dry mouth can set the stage for root decay. Read why dry mouth is a problem for your teeth.
• Receding gums, which expose root surfaces that are softer than enamel.
• Old or worn fillings. A filling that is worn at the edges or pulling away can let decay develop underneath.
• Frequent snacking and sipping. How often you eat sugars matters as much as how much. See soda and your teeth and carbs and your teeth.
• Skipped cleanings and checkups, which give small problems time to grow.

How tooth decay is found early in Timonium

Early decay rarely hurts, which is why regular checkups matter. The practice recommends a professional cleaning every six months, and cleaning appointments last a full 60 minutes. Several tools help find decay before it becomes a bigger problem:

• Digital X-rays show decay between teeth and under old fillings, appear on screen right away and involve as much as 90 percent less exposure than film.
• DIAGNOdent, a laser pen that can detect small amounts of decay at the earliest stages, sometimes before it can be seen on an X-ray, so there are fewer surprise cavities.
• Intraoral cameras that zoom in on each section of your mouth, so you can see what Dr. Haywood sees.

Read more about dental technology at the practice.

Preventing tooth decay without fluoride

The practice avoids fluoride. Protection comes from strengthening enamel in other ways, sealing vulnerable surfaces and good daily habits.

Calcium rebuilding treatments

Non-fluoride calcium rebuilding treatments are offered to help strengthen enamel for patients of all ages. They are especially worth asking about if you take medications that dry your mouth or have exposed root surfaces.

Xylitol

Xylitol mints and lollipops also help reduce decay risk, and they are an easy addition between meals.

Super sealants

Super sealants completely seal the chewing surfaces and all the pits and fissures of adult and children’s teeth, so bacterial byproducts and simple sugars can’t be harbored there. The process is simple and painless, and the practice offers a lifetime warranty.

Daily habits at home

• Brush twice a day with gentle, thorough strokes. See smart brushing beats aggressive brushing.
• Clean between your teeth every day with floss or a water flosser. Read why a water flosser might be a good idea.
• Keep sweets with meals rather than grazing through the day. See a dentist’s guide to sweets.
• Drink water, especially after acidic or sugary drinks.

Treating tooth decay, from the smallest repair up

The goal is always to keep as much of your natural tooth as possible, which is easiest when decay is caught early.

1. Air abrasion. A thin, steady stream of air and silica gently removes small amounts of decay, with no heat, pressure or vibration, preserving more of your natural tooth.
2. Tooth-colored fillings. Composite is mixed at the time of treatment to match your teeth, bonded in place and completed in a single visit. The practice never uses amalgam. See mercury-free dentistry.
3. Inlays and onlays. When a larger part of a tooth is damaged, a bonded ceramic or composite inlay or onlay conserves healthy tooth structure compared with a traditional crown. Both take two visits. Learn about ultimate dental fillings.
4. Crowns. A porcelain crown is used when a tooth is extensively damaged or cracked, or after a root canal.
5. Root canal therapy. When infection reaches the pulp, a root canal removes the cause of the pain and saves the tooth, which is then capped with a porcelain crown. See root canals.
6. Extraction. Rarely needed with modern dentistry, but sometimes the best option when a tooth is too decayed and infected to keep. Your options for replacing it are discussed afterward.

For a closer look at keeping healthy tooth structure, read less is more in dentistry.

Tooth decay in children

Children’s teeth decay the same way, and good habits started early last a lifetime. Super sealants protect children’s back teeth too. For practical tips, read how to prevent cavities in children.

Paying for cavity care

The practice is out of network with all dental insurance companies. You pay at the time of your visit, and the office files the claim on your behalf so your plan can reimburse you for what it covers. Health savings and flex plans are welcome, and financing is available through CareCredit, with no-interest options for up to 12 months, and Cherry, with payment plans from 3 to 24 months. See financing options.

Frequently asked questions about tooth decay

Can tooth decay be reversed?

Very early enamel changes, before a cavity has formed, can sometimes be stopped with stronger enamel and better habits. Once a cavity forms, it needs a repair, which is why finding decay early matters so much.

Does a cavity always hurt?

No. Early decay usually causes no pain at all, and even an abscess doesn’t always hurt. DIAGNOdent and digital X-rays can reveal decay before any discomfort develops.

Do you use fluoride to prevent cavities?

No. The practice avoids fluoride and offers calcium rebuilding treatments, xylitol and super sealants instead.

What kind of fillings do you use?

Tooth-colored composite fillings, matched to your teeth and completed in a single visit. The practice never uses silver amalgam, and old amalgam fillings can be removed under rigorous safety protocols.

How often should I have my teeth checked for decay?

A professional cleaning and checkup every six months is recommended. Your dentist may suggest a different schedule based on your risk.

Stop tooth decay early in Timonium, MD

If it has been more than six months since your last checkup, or a tooth has started to feel sensitive, don’t wait for it to hurt. Request an appointment or call (410) 453-9399. The office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS is at 108 W Timonium Rd, Ste 200, Timonium, MD 21093, serving Timonium, Towson, Lutherville and Cockeysville. Find more articles on the blog.