Tooth decay can have serious consequences on teeth and overall health.
It can cause the following:
Sudden and sustained pain (sometimes violent) in the teeth and jaw
Abscess, sometimes accompanied by fever and swelling of the face
Bad breath
Loss of the decayed tooth
Difficulty chewing food
Difficulty with pronunciation
Tooth decay can also affect appearance, self-esteem and well-being. Also, untreated cavities can lead to costly care, especially if a tooth that is impossible to keep, must be removed and replaced.
Children
Pain caused by a cavity can lead to various complications in children, including:
Difficulty eating, which can lead to stunted growth
Sleep problems
Concentration problems
Anxiety, a tendency of getting angry easily, and fatigue. The child may also appear depressed
An infection caused by tooth decay may require the extraction of one or more teeth. This may impact pronunciation, appearance, self-esteem and overall well-being, in addition to being the cause of school absenteeism.
In more complicated cases, tooth decay should be treated under general anaesthesia at the hospital.