What does dental decay look like?

Are you worried about dental decay or cavities? When your not a dental professional it's hard to tell if you should be worried when you see something in your mouth or your children's mouth that doesn't look quite right. Early decay can show up as white spots on the teeth that don't come off with brushing, developed decay can be brown, black or grey and if the decay is large enough parts of the tooth can break off leaving a visible hole. Early decay starts small and can be sensitive or have no feeling at all, whilst advance decay can be very painful. 

The key to stopping decay is forming good habits from an early age. Diet plays a major role. When we think of the foods that are bad we think of chocolate, lollies, and sugary drinks. Yes, these foods are high in sugar and carbohydrates and can cause decay, but not if consumed in moderation and with proper brushing. It is how frequently we snack on these foods that cause the real problems. It’s best to eat set meals rather than ‘grazing’, whilst having a balanced diet rather than eating too much of one thing, and make sure anything sugary (even if it doesn’t taste sweet) is in moderation.

As always contact our lovely team on 07 4725 3366 to make an appointment or if you have any questions. We are always happy to help.