6 Where There Is No Dentist 2012
CAVITIES, TOOTHACHES AND ABSCESSES
‘Cavities’ are holes in teeth. Cavities are made by the infection called tooth
decay. If you have a black spot on your tooth, it might be a cavity. If that
tooth hurts some of the time, such as when you eat, drink, or breathe cold
air, it probably has a cavity in it.
You will get cavities in your teeth if you eat sweet food and then do not
clean your teeth. If you see a cavity starting in your mouth or feel a
tooth hurting you, get help right away. If you do not fill a cavity, it grows
bigger and deeper. A dental worker knows how to fill the cavity so you can
keep that tooth. Do this before the pain gets worse.
Each tooth has roots
that hold it in the jaw
bone. Inside each
root is a nerve. (p. 41,
42, and 46)
When decay touches
the nerve, inside the
tooth aches, even
when you try to
sleep.
When infection
reaches the
inside of a root, it
is called a tooth
abscess.
A tooth with an abscess needs treatment at once, before the infection
can go into the bone (page 93). In most cases the tooth must be taken
out. If it is not possible to do this right away, you can stop the problem from
getting any worse if you follow these steps:
1. Wash the inside of your mouth with warm
water. This removes any bits of food
caught inside the cavity.
2. Take aspirin or acetominophen for pain.
See page 95 for amount.
3. Reduce the swelling:
• hold warm water inside your mouth
near the bad tooth.
• Wet a cloth with hot water and
hold it against your face. Do not
use water hot enough to burn
yourself!
A tooth abscess can cause
swelling like this.