Dental care is often about getting rid of nuisances and improving the quality of your smile. This often means filling cavities, removing plaque, and providing x-rays to prevent stubborn issues. One common issue is dealing with cavities and preventing your teeth from total decay. If your tooth has decayed significantly, you may be able to smell or taste cavities. If your oral health has deteriorated to this point, Eric Felt D.D.S. can help you improve your teeth and get back to a better smile.
The Smell Of Decayed Teeth
The bacteria in your mouth is what causes you to smell or taste cavities as it releases a gas that can fill your mouth. This bad smell may start out like bad breath but if cavities are not taken care of, the smell can progress and be very unpleasant for you and those around you. The smell may start out light, but when you have an untreated cavity, the least of your worries should be the smell.
Cavities need to be filled as soon as possible to prevent you from losing the entire tooth or decaying bones in your jaw.
Tasting A Cavity
Similar to bad breath, you may be able to taste cavities or have a dry mouth. The taste may feel similar to how your breath feels when you first wake up in the morning. This bad taste usually comes when your cavity has progressed significantly or you are experiencing gum disease.
Brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash will not help curb the smell, so this is a sign that you may have a bigger issue that needs to be treated by a dentist.
Can They Cause Bad Breath?
Since some patients can smell or taste cavities, or rather the bacteria that causes them, others may be able to smell them too. While bad breath usually comes from your tongue, the strong smell from decaying enamel could lead to you trying to hide the smell. Dealing with bad breath is unpleasant and can limit the first impression you give. If you expect that your bad breath may be caused by something other than just the food you eat, contact our dental office sooner rather than later.
Why Does The Tooth Look Brown?
When a tooth starts to decay, you lose the top layers of enamel which start to expose the roots of the tooth. The dentine of your teeth is darkened due to bacteria which causes the teeth to look brown or black in certain spots. If you notice darkening spots on your teeth, contacting our dentists at Eric Felt D.D.S. can help fill in cavities and prevent you from losing your teeth.
Treating The Cavity
Fillings and drilling out the bacteria from the tooth is the only way to stop a cavity. If you smell or taste cavities, having them filled soon will save you from pain and further bad breath. Fillings come in a silver or white color that is used to fill the hole in the tooth and keep it intact.
For more extreme cases of tooth decay, you may need a root canal or a tooth extraction. These help to attack the problem at the root or remove a damaged tooth so it can not spread to other teeth. The sooner you get to your dentist the less work may need to be done. This is why 6-month checkups are necessary to stop cavities or other oral diseases before they get to an extreme level.
Eric Felt D.D.S.
No matter what oral care you need, our team at Eric Felt D.D.S. can help improve your smile. Our dental office in Cottonwood Heights offers root canals, teeth whitening, fillings, crowns, emergency care, dentures, and more.
As a family dentist, we know that the experience you have in our office is the most important. Dental anxiety is something that a lot of kids and adults experience, so when you come to our practice, we will work to keep you comfortable, informed, and calm. Taking care of your oral health is a proactive process. The only one who can improve the look and feel of your teeth is you.
Let us show you our passion for dentistry while improving your smile and self-confidence. Contact us today!
