Rotten teeth, as a rule, are not only a vivid sign of a spoiled smile, but can also indicate a variety of diseases of the liver, heart and stomach, because all systems and organs in the human body are interconnected.
Contrary to popular belief, rotten teeth aren't just caused by an over-indulgence in high-sugar foods. After all, the disease is often found even in very young children. Rotten teeth are also not a sign that a person does not follow oral hygiene. Of course, if you constantly neglect brushing your teeth, then sooner or later it will still affect the state of the oral cavity.
However, the most common causes of decayed teeth are:
- diseases of the internal organs, as well as diseases of the oral cavity;
- drug use, smoking, alcohol abuse;
- genetic predisposition;
- poor ecological situation, the presence of chemical enterprises near the place of residence of a person;
- deficiency of minerals and vitamins;
- abuse of products that have a destructive effect on the enamel (sour, cold, and then hot, etc.);
- impaired immunity.
The effect of decayed teeth on the body
The appearance of a smile is very important in the life of a modern person. So, damaged teeth can leave a negative impression on the interlocutor, and this, in turn, can lead to serious problems at work and in personal life.
However, it is necessary to deal with the treatment of rotten teeth not only because of their unaesthetic appearance. Putrid lesions of dental tissues can lead to many infectious diseases of the upper respiratory tract.
The consequences of decayed teeth may differ depending on the location of the pathology. So, if the decay of the tooth began from the root, then the purulent discharge in the process will not be able to go outside, which over time can lead to the formation of various cysts. These formations can only be removed surgically. Otherwise, the patient may lose the tooth completely.
If the disease began to develop in the gum area, then this can lead to caries in the cervical region of adjacent teeth.
If left untreated, the patient can completely rot the tooth and nerves. As a rule, only the root of the tooth remains. The problem in this case is the impossibility to further prepare the site for the prosthesis, since it will not be sufficiently stable.
Osler's endocarditis is another consequence of the lack of treatment of decayed teeth. With this disease, the bacteria involved in tooth decay are transferred with blood to the heart, where they cause damage to its internal septum. This disease can be cured only with the help of surgery. Before the operation, the doctor will have to remove a rotten tooth - the source of infection.
Another consequence of diseased teeth can be alopecia. Doctors have long noticed that with the defeat of the chewing teeth, the top of the person begins to go bald, and with the defeat of the incisors, the temporal region.
Often, bad teeth are closely related to diseases of the skeletal system, such as arthrosis and polyarthritis.
A huge number of bacteria that are on a decaying tooth can be carried throughout the body with the bloodstream and cause infections and diseases of various organs. Since the brain is closest to the decaying tooth, the risk of infection is the highest. All this can lead to at least constant migraines, and at most to meningitis.
But even if this does not happen, a person will still feel constant malaise, since his body will constantly be poisoned by the decay products of tissues.
Treatment of decayed teeth
Before starting dental treatment, the dentist must find out the cause of the pathology. This is necessary so that a person does not have a relapse of the disease over time. In addition, if the cause of the disease is not eliminated, the dental treatment itself may be ineffective.
After that, the diseased tooth is treated and the causes that led to the disease are eliminated.
It is worth noting that the fear of dentists in most patients has long been a thing of the past. At the moment, doctors use the latest equipment and medicines, as a result of which the treatment becomes absolutely painless.
Therefore, be that as it may, it is not worth starting a problem and postponing a visit to the dentist. You should also not self-medicate, as this can lead to a further spread of the pathological process, as a result of which it will be much more difficult to cure the tooth.
In general, the treatment of decayed teeth usually includes the following procedure:
- Carrying out an x-ray to assess the condition of the invisible part of the tooth;
- Identification of areas of inflammation in the oral cavity;
- The choice of treatment regimen, depending on the severity of the pathology;
- Treatment of the oral cavity with antiseptic preparations, for example, chlorexidine;
- Application to gums affected by inflammation of creams, gels or ointments that have analgesic, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects;
- Removal of plaque and tartar from the teeth, informing the patient about the rules for caring for the oral cavity;
- Taking a smear from the affected area of the tooth. After that, the doctor will be able to determine the type of pathogen and its sensitivity to antibiotics. This will enable the doctor to prescribe antibiotics that will be most effective in this case;
- Filling of teeth affected by caries and applying fluorine-containing pastes to teeth. If decay has affected a large area of the tooth, the dentist can remove the affected tissue with a drill, and then build up the tooth;
- Rinsing the mouth with drugs that have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. If desired, the patient can also rinse the mouth with a decoction of chamomile or sage after each meal;
- In the case when the restoration of the tooth fails, the doctor performs a complete extraction of the tooth, and installs a prosthesis in its place.
But in the latter case, you should not despair. Modern medicine can offer a huge number of solutions to the problem of patients who, as a result, had to remove one, several or even all teeth.
So, after the healing of the wound formed after the extraction of the tooth, the dentist may recommend the patient to install crowns, removable or fixed dentures. This procedure is performed by a prosthetist. Thanks to modern technology, dentures are difficult to distinguish from real teeth.
Modern dentures have a natural appearance, do not rub or put pressure on the gums, restore the bite and help to achieve an even distribution of the load during chewing. Thanks to the latter, the patient will be able to avoid many problems with the jaw joints in the future.
For successful dental treatment, the patient requires a change in lifestyle. The patient should give up smoking and alcohol abuse, regularly carry out oral hygiene, consume dairy and meat products, fruits and vegetables in large quantities, undergo an examination at the dentist at least once every 6 months.
