Being Brightened

Occurrence of dental caries, also known as cavities, is one of the most common dental problems. These caries occur mainly due to the tooth decay.

Now, you may wonder what tooth decay is. Tooth decay is basically a process of destruction of the tooth enamel which is the hardest part of any tooth. Once the tooth enamel is compromised, the decay can start affecting inner layers, dentin and pulp, of the teeth.

The tooth decay is carried out due to formation of plaque on the teeth. Plaque is a bacterial biofilm which forms around your teeth, especially along the gum line. This plaque produces acid which can be quite detrimental to the integrity of tooth enamel.

It would be worth mentioning the forms of dental caries.

The first type or form of dental caries is the one which forms in the pits and fissures of the teeth. It is worth noting that your teeth are formed by a number of sections. Pits and fissures are created at the points where these sections meet. While you may not be able to do anything about this type of caries except going for the dental treatment, you can prevent the development of caries in those areas by getting the pits and fissures sealed with the help of dental sealants.
Smooth surface caries belong to the second type of dental caries. Smooth surfaces are located along the gum line and the areas where tooth teeth meet, interdental spaces. To get rid of plaque from these areas, you need to floss your teeth regularly. Moreover, you have to make sure that you clean the teeth’s areas along the gum line.

Preventing dental caries

Good thing is that preventing dental caries is easier as compared to treating the caries. There are several oral hygiene products and tools available to help you prevent dental caries. However, your oral hygiene technique and regularity is something that matters the most. Brushing teeth is the daily activity. You have to make sure that you are doing it the right way. First, you will need to get a toothbrush with soft bristles. And then, you will have to brush your teeth using a consistent and circular motion while making sure that you clean every area of the teeth. You can also get an electric toothbrush if you want.

When it comes to choosing toothpaste, you have to make sure that you are picking the one with fluoride as major ingredient. Fluoride doesn’t only help you get rid of the plaque but it also strengthens your tooth enamel.

If you notice the dental caries developing on your teeth, you need to contact your dentist immediately. The sooner you reach out to the dentist, the easier it is going to be for you to get the issue treated.

When you go for a dental checkup, your dentist may recommend a dental x-rays test to assess your dental health. This dental x-rays test can help a dentist know a lot of things about your oral and dental health. For instance, if you have a cavity in any of the interdental spaces, your dentist will not be able to know about it through a physical checkup. Dental x-rays, on the other hand, will surely put a clear picture about the cavity status.

It would be worth mentioning here that many people are concerned about the effects of radiation which is generated when an x-rays beam is fired. If you are worried about the impact of radiation while going for the dental x-rays, this article is for you.

How do the dental x-ray tests work?

X-rays use a beam of electromagnetic waves which draw picture of the internal organs, bones and tissues on an x-ray film. Dental x-rays work in two ways, i.e. intraorally and extraorally. Intra-oral x-rays use the dental sensor inside the mouth while this sensor is kept outside the mouth in case of extraoral x-rays.

Intraoral X-rays are more common because they help the dentist in assessing the bone density of your teeth and jawbone. The dental x-rays can also be helpful in diagnosing gum disease and tooth decay even in the early stages. Extra-oral x-rays are typically handy when an assessment of the health of your teeth and gums is required.

What to expect during dental x-rays?

The process of dental x-rays test is pretty quick and convenient. First of all, you dentist will put an apron and a collar on you in order to protect you from radiation. If you are going for the intra-oral x-rays test, your dentist will position a piece of plastic or cardboard for the purpose of holding the film. Once the film is settled at right position, the x-rays machine will be moved along the cheek to make a picture of the area your dentist wants to be shown on the film. The dentist may also adjust sensor in different positions to take different images. The images are developed immediately.

What are the risks involved in dental x-rays?

As mentioned above, x-rays involve firing of the radiation which can be dangerous for the human health. However, the dental x-rays are not dangerous due to the fact that they use very little amount of radiation. This amount of radiation is too small to cause any kind of trouble for the human health. However, your dentist will still take a number of precautionary measures to make sure that you remain safe from the effects of radiation. If you have any condition which doesn’t allow you to get exposed to the radiation caused by x-rays, you need to talk about it with your dentist.