Common Diseases of the Teeth

 A List of Common Diseases of the Teeth

• Teeth are calcified tissues made up of three distinct layers.
• The outer layer is made up of enamel, a very hard substance designed to protect the teeth.
• The middle layer contains dentin, another mineralized tissue that contributes to tooth structure.
• The inner layer contains pulp made up of nerve tissue, blood vessels and cells. Diseases of the teeth commonly stem from bacterial infections, and tooth decay as a result of infection leads to a number of common diseases in babies, youths and adults.

BOTTLE MOUTH

• Bottle mouth refers to tooth decay in babies and toddlers as a result of improper bottle feeding. 
• Milk and juice, common drinks fed to babies and toddlers, contain sugars and acids that support the growth of plaque and wear down the enamel of the teeth. 
• The extent of enamel damage depends on the frequency and duration of exposure to the acids and sugar. Bottle mouth occurs when young children are allowed to sleep with, or walk around with a bottle or sippy cup. 
• Sipping on sugary drinks for prolonged periods of time means the enamel is constantly worn down, which can lead to severe tooth decay and disease. 
• The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends limiting juice intake, giving babies a bottle of water to drink, and teaching children to drink from a cup at a young age to prevent the development of bottle mouth.

DENTAL CARIES AND TOOTH DECAY

• Dental caries, or cavities result, from tooth decay, either in children or adults. 
• Bacterial damage to the tooth causes dental caries. 
• Bacteria feed on sugar in the mouth and secrete acid, which dissolves the enamel. 
• Excessive exposure to sugar, coupled with poor oral hygiene, allows for an increase in bacterial activity on the tooth, which causes holes in the enamel. 
• If left untreated, the caries can penetrate through the enamel layer into the dentin and cause extensive tooth decay. 
• Mild caries can be treated with fillings, by which a dentist removes the affected parts of the tooth and places a filling over the site of decay. 
• If caries penetrate into the deepest later of the tooth, the pulp, then a root canal is required to treat the tooth decay.

TOOTH ABSCESS

• Tooth abscess commonly occurs in severe cases of tooth decay. 
• If a dental cavity is left untreated and allowed to progress, bacteria eventually invade the pulp and infect the nerves and cells within the tooth. 
• The infection leads to inflammation and the formation of pus. 
• Pus collects at the root of the tooth, forming an abscess. 
• Once an abscess develops, the patient must seek immediate medical attention.
• An abscessed tooth may be treatable with root canal therapy if the structure of the tooth and the surrounding bone are sufficiently intact. Severe cases of abscess may require surgery and tooth extraction.