What happens if you don't remove decayed teeth?

Tooth decay, also known as caries, is easy to occur in daily life and is mainly caused by dental plaque. Tooth decay is a very serious oral problem. If not treated in time, the rotten teeth will damage the dental nerves and even form thick tissues, leading to local infection. Tooth decay is usually accompanied by toothache symptoms, which makes patients feel uncomfortable. Severe cases require timely tooth extraction. So, what happens if decayed teeth are not removed? Let’s take a closer look below.

Tooth decay itself is not contagious, but severe tooth decay has damaged the tooth root. At this time, the middle of the tooth decay is hollow. After food residues and bacteria enter the root canal, it is difficult to clean them out. Bacteria breed inside, directly affecting the alveolar bone and the health of the surrounding teeth. If they are not removed in time, the good teeth on both sides will gradually deteriorate, and the opposite teeth and adjacent teeth will also be displaced.

2. Cause headaches

Rotten tooth roots must be extracted. Because teeth are connected to nerves, rotten tooth roots will stimulate the nerves and cause frequent toothaches and headaches.

3. Damage to oral mucosa

Unrepaired cavities can repeatedly irritate the oral mucosa when chewing. Normally, if there is an ulcer on the oral mucosa, it will heal in about a week. However, under the repeated stimulation of tooth decay, the ulcer will only become larger and deeper, and over time, a qualitative change will occur.

4. Cause systemic diseases

Rotten teeth serve as a lesion for infection by pathogenic microorganisms, which can cause bacteria to enter the human blood circulation and cause systemic diseases, including infectious arthritis, endocarditis, and nephritis.

5. What decayed teeth need to be extracted?

Mild and moderate tooth decay can be treated with fillings, medications, and other methods. Tooth extraction is only necessary when tooth decay reaches the following conditions: the tooth decay is infected, an abscess is formed, and the infection reaches the tip of the tooth root; the bone around the root is also infected, causing severe pain; there is obvious swelling of the gums or even the cheek on the infected side. Such cavities are harmful and have no benefits, so it is recommended to extract them.

6. Causes of tooth decay

1. Poor oral environment causes tooth decay

If teeth are not cleaned properly, it is easy for food residues to remain. Under the action of dental plaque, the sugar or starch in the food reacts chemically to produce acidic substances that corrode the teeth, which can easily lead to tooth decay. Children, especially those who do not have the habit of brushing their teeth before going to bed, and even adults, are a high-risk group for tooth decay.

2. Excessive consumption of sweets leads to tooth decay

Sweet foods contain a lot of sugar and starch, such as candy, chocolate, biscuits and cakes. In particular, sticky sweets are easy to adhere to the tooth surface, providing sufficient nutrients for the cariogenic bacteria in the dental plaque. The organic acids produced after metabolism are highly cariogenic, so you should eat less sweets in normal times.

3. Carbonated drinks cause tooth decay

Because the acidity of carbonated drinks themselves will destroy the acid-base balance in the mouth, keeping the teeth in an acidic environment all the time, their mineral components will be corroded and dissolved bit by bit, causing calcium deficiency and increasing the chance of tooth decay. If you must drink, it is best to use a straw, which can reduce the time the drink is in contact with your teeth. It is best to rinse your mouth with clean water after drinking.

4. Tooth decay caused by dental reasons

Uneven teeth, especially crowded teeth, can make oral plaque easily adhere to the teeth, which is difficult to remove with daily brushing. This can cause food to get stuck between the teeth, swollen and congested gums, bleeding when brushing, bad breath and other symptoms, and can also lead to tooth decay. Poorly made porcelain restorations can also lead to tooth decay. Some wisdom teeth or poorly removable dentures may also cause tooth decay.

5. Poor immunity leads to tooth decay

Resistance includes the anti-caries ability of teeth and the whole body. Internal factors of the body can affect the occurrence of tooth decay. Especially when protein, minerals and vitamins are deficient, it contributes to the occurrence of tooth decay. Eat more raw dairy products and nutritious foods to fully supplement minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. At the same time, actively supplementing vitamin D can also effectively prevent tooth decay.

6. Phytic acid foods cause tooth decay

Phytic acid is the main form of phosphate compounds in plant foods. Phytic acid is found in many foods such as grains, seeds, nuts and legumes. While these foods are often touted as good for you, they can also have some negative effects on your dental and bone health. It blocks the absorption of phosphates, as well as other minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc, weakening teeth and leading to tooth decay.

7. Low saliva concentration leads to tooth decay

Under normal circumstances, saliva plays the role of mechanical cleaning, antibacterial, acid resistance and anti-dissolution. Changes in the quantity and quality of saliva can affect the caries prevalence. Clinically, the caries prevalence in patients with xerostomia or salivary secretion is significantly increased. Patients who undergo maxillofacial radiotherapy may have multiple caries due to damage to the salivary glands; on the other hand, when the amount of lactic acid in the saliva increases and the saliva becomes too thick, it can also lead to tooth decay.