Teeth need as much attention as other areas of the body. Needed mainly for chewing food, teeth also allow people to speak properly. Despite the great importance of teeth, most people still fail to take proper care of their teeth. Eventually, they get that irritating pain in the teeth or jaws, and they start wishing that they took care of their teeth in the first place.
While some toothaches are mild, there are also excruciating toothaches that hamper people from doing their regular activities. Moreover, heat or cold can magnify the pain.

To keep toothaches at bay, most people take over the counter pain medications like ibuprofen. The medication eases the pain and provides temporary relief, but eventually the toothache must be addressed with other long-lasting treatments.
There are several causes of toothaches, and each one often stems from neglect. One common cause of toothaches is that a person has cavities. Cavities are holes in the teeth, when the enamel and dentin are unable to protect the teeth’s pulp. When the holes become larger, food particles may be trapped in them. Because of this, the cavities become worse. Eventually, the teeth become sensitive to sweet, sour, hot or cold food.
Cavities form when the bacteria in the mouth convert simple sugars into acid plaque. In effect, the hard layers of the tooth’s enamel and the dentin weaken because of the acid plaque. When the saliva dissolves the weakened layers, a hole starts forming. The hole becomes bigger if the tooth is not treated for a long time.

In cases where the cavities are not that serious, the most obvious treatment is to have the affected tooth filled. A local anesthetic makes it more comfortable for the patient to endure the process. Through an air abrasion instrument, a drill, or a laser, the dentist removes the area where the tooth has decayed. When the area has been cleared of the decayed part, then the dentist starts filling the tooth. The process is completed with the dentist polishing the filled tooth. There are different types of fillings, and these are used depending on the case of the patient.
In cases where the tooth decay is pretty serious, the decayed tooth is removed. An implant, a bridge or a crown should soon replace the extracted tooth to prevent the neighboring teeth from changing position. In other cases, the dentist performs a root canal. This way, the patient is prevented from feeling pain because the pulp is removed.

People have always said that prevention is better than cure. While cavities can be quite a problem, it can be prevented. The simplest way to prevent cavities is to brush teeth regularly; brushing the teeth properly is another issue. One should make sure that all surfaces of the teeth are brushed to make sure that the food particles are removed. Flossing after brushing also helps a lot. Regularly brushing and flossing after meals prevent plaque formation.

Eating sugary snacks less often also helps in preventing cavities. Since acid is produced when sugar comes in contact with plaque, one should limit his or her sugar intake. Rinsing or brushing right after eating sweet snacks lessens the time the sugar is in contact with plaque, thus preventing cavities.