As the most common dental condition to affect people’s smiles, tooth decay may become a problem at some point throughout your dental health care. If it does, then the good news is that you have a good chance of treating it before it has a chance to become a more serious problem. Treating mild to moderate tooth decay can be both effective and discreet with the help of a custom-designed, tooth-colored dental filling. However, the tooth in question can still be vulnerable to tooth decay after it’s received the filling, and ensuring the success of your treatment will require caring for your teeth and restoration properly in the future.
Letting too much plaque develop
The driving cause behind tooth decay development is the bioactivity of certain oral bacteria. Specifically, the way in which certain bacteria metabolize sugar and other carbohydrates as they cling to your teeth’s surfaces. These and other bacteria form dental plaque on a consistent basis, sticking to your teeth and turning sugar into acids that weaken their tooth enamel. If you have a tooth with a filling placed in it, then plaque buildup can pose a special threat to it. The area of the tooth that’s been affected by a cavity already won’t have the same level of protection as the rest of your tooth structure, and will rely on the filling to protect it from further decay.
Eating or drinking too much sugar
The bacteria that lead to tooth decay are a threat mostly when they produce enamel-eroding acids. This activity is fueled by their exposure to sugar and carbs, which is why it’s always important to limit your consumption of sugary foods and beverages. The more acids oral bacteria can produce, the faster they can erode your healthy tooth enamel. They can also become a greater threat to your previously treated tooth if you allow oral bacteria to consistently metabolize sugar.
Grinding your teeth persistently
In addition to the natural threats that oral bacteria can pose to your tooth and its filling, there are also threats that can originate from less common sources. For example, some people may suffer from a chronic teeth-grinding habit, known as bruxism, that can wear down their teeth’s structures and lead to a host of additional tooth problems. The pressure and friction can wear down your healthy, natural tooth structure, and if you have a tooth filling, it can also compromise the filling’s success, or force it out of your tooth’s cavity.
Learn more about preserving your filling
The point of a tooth filling is to protect your tooth after it’s suffered a cavity, which it can only do successfully if you take proper care of your teeth and restoration. To learn more, schedule an appointment with us by calling Dreem Dentistry in Leawood, KS, today at 913-681-5500. We also serve patients who live in Overland Park and all surrounding communities.
