Can Front Teeth Cavities Be Filled?

Cavities are more likely to form in the pits and grooves in the molars and pre-molars. They accumulate when you cannot remove the food stuck therein when you brush. However, cavities can also form on your front teeth.

 

These cavities are no different from the ones in the back teeth. Your dentist will handle them in the same way during treatment. The slight difference is that they may take a few extra steps when treating them. Your front teeth are the center of your looks, hence the extra care.

 

How Cavities Form

Cavities form when sugars and acids combine with the bacteria in your mouth. They cause plaque, a sticky substance that builds up on your teeth over time. When it stays there for an extended time, it starts eating away your enamel. The enamel is the outer, hard layer of your teeth.

 

The eating away results in a cavity, which is like a hole. Initially, the hole may be shallow and only affect the enamel. Without a dentist’s intervention, the hole in the tooth can reach the dentin, or the soft part of your tooth under the enamel. Long-term effects include the development of abscesses.

 

Causes of Cavities in the Front Teeth

In children, cavities in the front teeth can be a result of baby bottle tooth decay. Most pediatricians will recommend not to let your infant have a bottle overnight. You should also not let them have it for lengthy periods in the daytime.

 

Baby bottle tooth decay results from the lingering natural sugars from the formula, milk, or fruit juices. These cause a buildup of bacteria in your baby’s mouth, resulting in cavities. Front tooth cavities at this young age can affect their ability to talk or chew comfortably.

 

To be on the safe side, practice good dental care on your infant even before their teeth appear. Do this by gently wiping your baby’s gums. Progress to brushing once their teeth appear. Schedule their first dental appointment to happen on or before their first birthday.

 

Front teeth cavities in adults, on the other hand, result from the same reasons as in their back teeth. They result from a combination of inadequate dental care and sugary or acidic diets. Front teeth cavities in adults may also be hereditary. They can also result from certain medical conditions.

 

Filling Cavities on Front Teeth

The most common way of treating cavities in your front teeth is through filling. Due to the location of the teeth, most dentists prefer filling with porcelain or composite resin materials. These materials can match the color of the rest of your tooth. However, you can still choose to have other materials like silver or gold.

 

Signs and Symptoms of Front Tooth Cavities

Some of the most common signs and symptoms of front tooth cavities include:

 

• Sensitivity to hot and cold foods or drinks
   

• Toothaches
   

• Enduring sensitivity to sweets
   

• Pit or hole in the tooth
   

• Stains or dark spots on your front teeth
   

• Pus
   

• Bad breath (halitosis)
  
   

How to Prevent Cavities

As a start, practice good at-home oral hygiene. Make brushing teeth twice a day part of your daily routine. Use toothpaste with fluoride and floss once every day. Limit your intake of sugary foods and eat foods rich in nutrients.

If you are looking to learn more about cavities or for a dentist to fill your front teeth, contact Reaves Dental at our office in New Hartford, New York. You can call us at (315) 736-0139 today to book an appointment.