There are five phases of dental caries, in general. Let’s take a closer look at them now.

Stage 1: Demineralisation begins.

Enamel is a kind of tissue that makes up the outer covering of your teeth. Enamel, which is largely made up of mineral, is the toughest tissue in your body. The enamel, on the other hand, starts to lose these minerals as a tooth is introduced to acids generated by plaque microorganisms. You may notice a white patch on a few of your teeth if this happens. The loss of minerals in this region is the first indicator of tooth decay.

Stage 2: Enamel deterioration

Enamel will deteriorate if tooth decay is allowed to persist. A white patch on a tooth may deepen to a brown tone over time. Tiny cracks in your tooth called cavities/dental caries, can occur as enamel weakens. Your dentist will need to fix any cavities.

Stage 3: Degeneration of the dentin

The dentin is the substance underneath the enamel. Because it is finer than enamel, it is more vulnerable to acid erosion. As a result, tooth decay progresses more quickly once it hits the dentin. . Dentin additionally includes tubes that connect to the tooth’s neurons. As a result, when the dentin is impacted by dental caries, you may notice sensitivity. This is most noticeable while eating or drinking hot or cold meals or beverages.

Stage 4: Damage to the pulp

The pulp of your tooth is the deepest layer. It houses the blood vessels and nerves that aid in the maintenance of the tooth’s condition. The pulp contains nerves that provide feeling to the tooth. Because when pulp is damaged, it becomes irritable and begins to swell. So the supporting cells in the tooth are unable to grow to compensate the enlargement, stress on the nerves may be applied. This might cause discomfort.

Stage 5: Abscess

Bacteria can infiltrate the pulp as dental caries progresses, causing an inflammation. An abscess is a bubble of fluid that forms at the root of your tooth as a result of increased infection in the tooth. Cysts in the teeth can cause excruciating discomfort that can spread to the jaw. Inflammation of the gums, cheek, temperature, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck are all possible signs. A dental abscess demands immediate attention because the disease can spread to your jaw’s bone and other parts of your neck and head. In some circumstances, the damaged tooth may need to be extracted.