A Cavity Between Teeth Is A Pain
A cavity between teeth is one of the most common causes of an unhappy visit to the dentist. The space between teeth where cavities tend to form most easily is the hardest to clean. This tight space where sugary drinks love to roost and where particles of food love to wedge themselves is the perfect environment for bacterial growth that leads to a cavity devbetween teeth. This article will examine the formation, progression, diagnosis and treatment of cavities in the tight spaces between adjacent teeth.
How A Cavity Between Teeth Forms
Tooth decay occurs when plaque, a sticky film containing bacteria, builds up on tooth surfaces. The bacteria in plaque feed on sugars and starches from foods and drinks that we consume. In the process, they excrete acids as a byproduct. These acids can dissolve through the hard, outer enamel layer of the teeth over time if not properly removed by brushing and flossing, leading to softer inner layers becoming exposed.
The grooves, pits, and fissures that are present on the biting surfaces of back teeth provide natural traps where plaque and food particles can accumulate and bacteria can multiply. The tight contact points where adjacent teeth meet also create narrow gaps vulnerable to decay. It’s difficult to access these areas effectively with a toothbrush and they provide the perfect conditions for rampant cavity development if left uncleaned.
Stages of Cavity Progression
Initially, acids from bacteria dissolve minerals from enamel at a microscopic level, making small holes in the enamel surface. This subsurface enamel demineralization stage is known as a white spot lesion; it indicates the early signs of tooth decay.
Over weeks to months, dissolved minerals continue to diffuse out while bacterial acids and enzymes penetrate deeper into vulnerable tooth structure. The lesions grow larger and reach the more porous dentin layer under the enamel. When dentin becomes compromised, tooth decay accelerates rapidly.
Eventually, if left untreated, cavities will reach the innermost layer containing blood vessels and nerves. At this point, severe, spontaneous toothache pain is common. Bacterial toxins and byproducts irritate nerve endings in the tooth pulp, causing inflammation or death of the pulp tissue. Abscesses can form at the tooth roots as infections spread via accessory or lateral canals. You may even end up in the Big British Book of Teeth. Or end up looking like this:
How To Prevent A Cavity Between Teeth
Preventing a cavity between teeth, or an interproximal cavity as it’s known among dental professionals, requires diligent oral hygiene and regular professional cleanings to remove disease-causing bacterial plaque from vulnerable contact areas. Daily flossing is imperative to clear tightly-packed food debris and disrupt thick biofilms coating tooth surfaces along gumlines and in narrow gaps where toothbrush bristles cannot reach. Floss must be gently moved up and down multiple times between each tooth, allowing the thin string to slide fully beneath the gumline and sweep bacteria off the sides of each tooth. Otherwise plaque stays undisturbed, its acidic byproducts gradually eroding protective enamel over months if unchecked. Some interdental spaces will only open by moving floss at awkward angles or using threaders to guide passage if very tight contacts prevent direct access. Oral irrigators can flush plaque bacteria out from hiding below the gum as well.
Getting into a consistent habit of cleaning between teeth right before bedtime is ideal to prevent bacterial colonies from proliferating as saliva flow slows overnight. Seeking professional cleanings every 6 months is also key for removing calculus deposits and occult caries that patients cannot self-detect between their own teeth before tissue damage accelerates. In particular, the wedges and thin metal strips dental hygienists use can reach the bottom of narrow gaps between teeth to scrape clinging bacteria away from vulnerable zones often missed during daily cleaning. Over-the-counter antimicrobial rinses used as an adjunct after brushing and flossing can temporarily suppress bacterial growth for added preventive benefit. Avoiding excessive snacking and acidy drinks minimizes cycles of pH fluctuations so enamel can reharden and resist dissolution over each day as well. With thorough plaque removal from tooth pits, grooves and interproximal areas on an ongoing basis, sites susceptible to rapid, progressive decay once penetrated remain far healthier and more decay-resistant long-term.
Detecting A Cavity Between Teeth
Unfortunately, cavities between teeth often go unnoticed in their early stages when they are easiest to treat. One may not experience sensitivity or obvious holes on smooth tooth surfaces between contacts. Early interproximal lesions are hidden from view and may only be apparent on dental x-rays.
In some cases, an advanced cavity destroying a cusp tip or tooth surface is merely the clinically visible part of a larger lesion spreading within the dentin between multiple teeth. A small area of visible decay likely belies underneath damage. The extent of inner decay is often under-estimated from outer signs alone.
Other techniques your dentist may use to find cavities between teeth include:
- Visual examination under magnification
- Exploring gaps with a fine probe
- Fiber-optic transillumination
- Laser fluorescence detection devices
Cavity Between Teeth Treatment Options
The progression of dental caries must be arrested early by removing all damaged enamel and dentin tissues. This is achieved by drilling the lesion and placing a durable filling material to restore form and function. If the pulp tissue is irreversibly infected due to a deeply penetrating cavity, a root canal treatment may be required before placing the final restoration.
For cavities detected at early white spot stages, remineralization therapies are often attempted before resorting to a drill and fill approach. These may involve high-concentration fluoride applications or calcium phosphate-releasing materials to rebuild lost minerals. However, remineralization alone cannot completely restore large, dark lesions within the dentin layer.
After cavities are excavated and filled, it is imperative to maintain meticulous oral hygiene and plaque control in problem areas. The placement of dental sealants along pit and fissure surfaces prone to decay is also preventative. Using interdental cleaning aids like floss, picks and interspace brushes to thoroughly clean plaque from between all teeth daily reduces the risk of recurrent caries in these at-risk areas.
With early intervention and improved self-care, new or recurring cavities between teeth can often be avoided altogether. But this relies on regular dental exams and X-rays to detect issues while they remain easily treatable – saving teeth, time and money compared to advanced restorative procedures down the road. Maintaining dental vigilance and a daily cleaning routine focused on interproximal surfaces is key for reducing dental disease in the gaps most vulnerable to hidden and rapid decay.