Tooth Decay

When bacteria in your mouth create acids from the food you eat, they can dissolve the surface of the tooth, causing tooth decay or a CAVITY.

This can happen either above the gums, from improper brushing and flossing, or below the gums, from not seeing your hygienist regularly. A cavity is the dissolved area of the tooth that can look brownish and can cause a bad toothache if the cavity is deep.

The dentist can't always see cavities, especially if they are hidden between the teeth, so he uses X-rays to view the whole tooth for hidden areas of decay. Dr Galli uses DIGITAL X-RAYS, which are lower dosage and more accurate. It is important to get X-rays about once a year because decay can travel through the tooth quickly.