Little-known facts about tooth decay

Most snacks, even when sugar-free, can still give you tooth decay.

According to dentist Ho Han Quan, a doctor at a dental clinic in Kowloon (Hong Kong, China), some patients have tooth decay and even necrotic teeth but still have no symptoms of pain.

Most of us have tooth decay due to the influence of our diet. (Photo: Pexesl).

Each person's condition is different, some people only feel pain when drinking cold water or eating sweets. Meanwhile, some people only start to feel pain in the late stages of tooth decay.

Therefore, some patients with dental problems due to lack of pain delay treatment until their gums ooze pus or their face swells. At this time, the infection has spread and the dentin has been severely damaged, so the tooth can only be extracted, and the opportunity to fill the tooth or save the pulp is missed.

However, in reality, if the tooth is already in the cavity stage, successful treatment and recovery is not simple.

Tooth decay still recurs after tooth filling

Dentist Ho Han Quan said that if you neglect oral care and have unhealthy eating habits, tooth fillings will also suffer from recurrent tooth decay.

Although bacteria cannot eat away at the filling material, they can form cavities again at the junction between the natural tooth and the filling. Therefore, we should not take care of our teeth lightly after cavities are filled.

Additionally, if the cavity is too severe, a filling may not be able to save the tooth. If the tooth nerve is too inflamed, you will feel pain after the tooth filling. This pain may not appear immediately after the filling is completed or may appear after some time.

If this happens, you will need root canal treatment. Teeth with damaged pulp are easily damaged, so you need porcelain crowns to protect your teeth. In case the patient has severe tooth decay, they must have the decayed tooth removed to avoid infection.

According to dentists, limiting the frequency of eating sweets is more important than limiting the amount of sweets in the body. (Photo: Pexels).

Sugar-free snacks still cause tooth decay

Most snacks, even when sugar-free, contain carbohydrates, such as chips, cookies, bread, instant noodles.

Most types of carbohydrates have varying degrees of tooth decay risk. After digestion, bacteria will release some acid and damage teeth. Among carbohydrates, the components most likely to cause tooth decay are sucrose and glucose.

Eating habits can easily cause tooth decay

If you eat too many snacks, including sugary snacks and drinks, your mouth will be constantly exposed to carbohydrates. Such a diet causes the bacteria that cause tooth decay to grow stronger.

Snacks or sweets are not good for our teeth, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't eat them. According to dentists, to control tooth decay, limiting the frequency of eating sweets is more important than limiting the amount of sweets ingested.

Therefore, if we eat dessert, we can eat it right after the main meal. Normally, the recommended total number of meals and snacks per day is 3 times and no more than 4 times .