Tooth Decay Can Be Contagious
It may be a bad news for you that tooth decay in one tooth can lead to tooth decay in other teeth as well. Having that said, it would be worth mentioning how this condition can spread to the other teeth in your mouth.
How tooth decay from one tooth can spread to other teeth?
Most of the people think that tooth decay and cavities occur due to presence of sugar and other leftover foods in the mouth. The matter of fact is that the presence of these particles is just one of the reasons you may have tooth decay. The real culprit is the presence of bacteria in the mouth. These bacteria consume the food particles in order to produce an acid which eats away the tooth enamel. And while the enamel is being eaten away, the bacteria enter into the inner layers of the tooth and cause infection. This process is known as tooth decay. The advanced form of tooth decay is called cavity which mainly involves infection in the innermost portion, pulp, of the tooth.
The bad news is that the kind of bacteria that cause cavities can transfer from tooth to tooth and mouth to mouth. if you have the problem of decay in one tooth, chances are you are going to get this condition initiated in the other teeth as well. Similarly, these bacteria transfer from one person to another person. But it doesn’t really mean that you should avoid meeting people. Adults get fight off the incoming bacteria so they are less susceptible to bacterial infections. However, you have to make sure that your children are staying away from the peers who have the cavities.
To prevent tooth decay from occurring, you have to make sure that you are taking good care of your oral health and hygiene. And if you suspect that one of your teeth is infected, you will need to immediately see the dentist so that the problem could be stopped from progressing. One thing that you have to keep in mind regarding this situation is that tooth decay can be reversed if you catch it in the early stages. Regular dental visits and special dental visits, in case the problem starts, are the best means of dealing with the tooth decay. Moreover, it is very important to take good care of your dental hygiene by sticking with the best hygiene practices. Brush your teeth twice on daily basis and do the flossing regularly. In some cases, tooth decay, in early stages, can be revered with the help of a mouthwash that would contain chlorhexidine which is an antiseptic material.
