If you’ve ever had a cavity, then there’s a possibility you’ve had an interproximal cavity, which is a cavity between two teeth. These cavities form like any other, due to the wearing away of enamel on the tooth, which allows bacteria to stick to teeth and cause cavities.
What makes these cavities, known as interproximal cavities, different is that they’re a little harder to prevent, and may not be detected as easy as a regular cavity.
Why Are Cavities Between The Teeth Harder To Prevent?
Interproximal cavities are the sneakiest of all cavities because they can form even if you brush your teeth regularly twice a day. Because these cavities form in between two teeth, brushing often doesn’t effectively clean away the plaque and bacteria that cause cavities between the teeth.
If patients neglect regular flossing habits, plaque buildup can lead to these sneaky cavities. This makes it all the more important to floss between teeth on a daily basis, as cleaning the cracks and crevices in between your teeth will help to reduce interproximal cavities.
What Are Interproximal Cavity Symptoms?
There are a few common symptoms that interproximal cavities show. Symptoms usually occur once the cavity has reached the dentin, which is the second layer of tissue behind the enamel.
If you have a cavity between teeth, you may experience tooth sensitivity to cold, tooth sensitivity to sweets and trouble chewing due to pain or discomfort.
What Do I Do If I Have An Interproximal Cavity?
Cavities between two teeth are generally discovered through bite wing x-rays conducted by your dentist. Depending on the severity, there are a few different options.
If they’re caught early, these cavities can be recalcified with fluoride gel if the cavity only extends halfway into your enamel. If the cavity is deeper than that, fillings are usually the chosen fix.
If these cavities have went undetected and untreated for too long, they might be quite severe. In these severe cases, sometimes crowns or root canals will be used, so it’s best to go to the dentist regularly to avoid the chance of any cavities increasing in severity.
The best way to avoid interproximal cavities is to brush your teeth at least twice every day along with daily flossing. The flossing will help to remove excess plaque and bacteria which will reduce the chances of cavities forming between your teeth. It is just as important that you visit your dentist so you receive regular examinations and treatment to prevent the formation of any cavities.
Hi, thanks for a very interesting post on cavities between teeth. That answers most of my questions. At my dental checkup I told my dentist I have some sensitivity for sweets and a little pain when chewing from my lower molars. He took X-rays and clearly found cavities between my molars – both infected. Both molars have already a white filling on the upper chewing surface done three years ago as replacements for old silver fillings. I certainly need to have a drilling-and-filling treatment. Do you think dentist will also need to drill out the existing rather new fillings in the upper chewing surface during treatment of the between teeth cavities?