Cavities have a way of taking you by surprise. One day, everything is fine. The next, you’ve got stabbing or throbbing pain in your tooth. This makes it feel like cavities form rapidly over mere days or weeks, but is that true?
Some cavities form quickly; others move at a snail’s pace. To help you better understand the process and timeline, this guide has all the details you need about how long cavities take to form.
Table of Contents
Understanding Cavities: The Basics
Few health issues are as universal as cavities. According to the CDC, about 90% of U.S. adults aged 20 and older have had at least one cavity. Many people dismiss them as minor since they’re so common, but they can have significant repercussions. From tooth loss to heart disease, extensive and untreated cavities are linked to a wide range of issues.
Cavities most often appear in teens and adults, but people of all ages can get them — even infants who just got their first tooth. It’s possible to reduce your risk, but most of us cannot fully prevent them. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of luck or genetics.
Types of Cavities
Cavities can take many forms, and these are the three most common.
- Coronal Cavities: The most common type, they’re characterized by where they develop: on the chewing surfaces or between the teeth.
- Root Cavities: Also characterized by their location, these cavities appear on the tooth roots, which lack protective enamel. Older adults and people with gum disease are most vulnerable to root cavities.
- Recurrent Cavities: The name says it all. These cavities form where others have already been treated.
How Do Cavities Develop?
Cavities can develop in various ways, but most follow the same script. Stage one? Plaque formation. This sticky mixture of saliva and food particles grips your teeth. You know that fuzzy feeling texture on your teeth when you wake up? That’s plaque.
Stage two begins when plaque transforms into tartar. This requires calcification and happens surprisingly fast. Unlike plaque, you can’t brush or floss tartar away. Once it forms, you’ll need a professional cleaning or special tools to remove it.
This is where the action begins. Tartar contains bacteria and acids, which work together to damage the teeth. The acids demineralize and weaken the enamel, while the bacteria attack and open holes.
Once the holes open, you move into the third stage. The dentin decays, then the pulp. Abscesses can develop and bacteria can attack the tooth roots. If left unchecked, it might end with the total loss of the tooth.
How Long Does It Take Cavities to Form?
Now that you know the script, it’s time to look at how long each act lasts. This can vary between individuals, so keep in mind that the following is a general timeline.
Stage One
This is the fastest stage of cavity formation. Plaque forms within minutes of eating, but the real risk comes from tartar. It takes a little longer, but plaque will calcify into tartar within 24–48 hours if you don’t remove it by brushing and flossing.
Stage Two
Your enamel is the hardest substance in your body, so plaque and tartar can’t demineralize it quickly. For most people, it takes at least 6 months, and for some, it can take up to five years. That’s why your dentist will space your twice-a-year dental appointments six months apart — it gives them a good chance at catching demineralization early enough to reverse it.
But it doesn’t always take that long. Injuries to the teeth compromise the enamel instantly, and if you eat a highly acidic diet, your enamel may be more vulnerable than the average person’s.
Stage Three
Once acids and bacteria have made their way through the enamel, things speed up again. Then the dentin and pulp can decay within weeks or months. Once a cavity hits the pulp, an abscess can form within days.
Factors That Can Slow Down or Speed Up Decay
Cavity formation is dynamic. For most people, there are multiple causes, and also multiple factors that determine the speed of their development. Some variables at play include:
- Normal level of acidity in the mouth
- Frequency of exposure to gastric acid
- Overall enamel health and thickness
- Cavity location
- Damage to the tooth
- Presence of previous dental work
- Saliva levels
Cavity Risk Factors
You’ve probably noticed that some people get cavities more easily than others — even when they see the dentist twice a year, brush and floss multiple times a day, and do everything they can to care for their teeth. Why is that?
There are many variables at play, and in most cases, it’s a convergence of factors. Below are some of the biggest risk factors that contribute to cavity development.
- Poor Oral Hygiene: Brushing and flossing won’t guarantee a cavity-free life, but they go a long way towards achieving that goal. Since they remove plaque before it turns into tartar, they help stop the first steps of cavity formation. Poor oral hygiene means tartar can form.
- Dry Mouth: Saliva is a key ingredient in plaque, but also defends against it, washing food particles away. If you have chronic dry mouth, you are more likely to develop plaque, tartar, and cavities.
- Frequent Vomiting: Vomit contains stomach acid, which is corrosive to enamel. That’s why people who vomit frequently because of chronic illness, medications, eating disorders, or pregnancy are more vulnerable to cavities.
- Chronic Acid Reflux: The issue here is the same as with frequent vomiting. Reflux brings corrosive stomach acid into the mouth, where it can wear down your enamel, giving cavities an easy path to weaker tissues.
- Tooth Position: Poor alignment can cause many issues with your oral and general health. Crowded or twisted are harder to clean, allowing tartar to form and cavities to form.
- Diet: Plaque forms when saliva and food particles mix and stick to the teeth, then hardens into the tartar that forms cavities. The more sticky foods you eat — items high in sugar or carbohydrates — the easier it is for cavities to develop.
- Old or Poor Dental Work: When dental work ages poorly, or the dentist doesn’t administer it correctly, bacteria can get underneath. Fillings, crowns, and veneers can hold that bacteria against the teeth while it eats away at the tissues.
Signs You Have a Cavity
Tooth pain is the most common sign of a cavity, but it’s far from the only one. Since cavities can develop at any speed, it’s essential that you seek treatment as soon as you suspect you might have one. Signs of cavities vary based on severity, location, and the way your body responds. Symptoms that might indicate a problem include:
- Tingling sensations in the tooth
- New or worsening sensitivity triggered by hot or cold beverages
- New or worsening sensitivity triggered by sweet foods
- Soreness when chewing, flossing, or brushing the teeth
- New or worsening bad breath
- New or worsening gum issues
Visual Cues You Might Have a Cavity
Cavities start microscopically small, and by the time you see the warning signs, they’re usually fairly progressed. But you should still know how to spot them. In the early stages, they often look different than people expect — white spots rather than dark ones, or a slight shadow rather than an obvious pit or hole. Over time, they turn yellow, then brown or black.
Pits only form in progressed cavities. They start as pinpoints and widen as the tooth decays. The more severe the cavity, the greater the chances that it might crumble.
Besides the cavity’s appearance, there are other visual cues that might indicate a problem. You may notice that your teeth fit together differently or your gums are red and swollen. Changes like this usually happen with advanced cavities and can vary based on the location.
What About Internal Cavities?
As stated above, not every cavity follows the same script. Some start inside the tooth rather than working their way from the outside in. This is yet another reason dental checkups are so essential: X-rays reveal problems we can’t see in the mirror. Keep up with your regular visits and be aware of non-visual cavity cues.
Options for Treating Cavities
Since most of us will have at least one cavity at some point, all of us should know our treatment options. The right approach usually depends on the cavity’s progression and location.
Early-stage treatment involves a deep cleaning paired with a fluoride application. This approach works when the cavity has just begun to form and only impacts the enamel’s outermost parts. If it has penetrated any deeper, you’ll need a more robust treatment.
The main approach for deeper cavities is to drill away the decayed tissues, cleanse the remaining tooth structures, then restore the tooth. Fillings work for small cavities and deeper ones in the center of the tooth. Larger cavities and those that compromise the “walls” of the tooth need crowns. Veneers are also an option, but only work for cavities on the front surfaces of the upper front teeth.
When cavities reach the pulp and root, they typically require root canals or, in some cases, tooth extraction. When this happens, it’s best to replace the missing tooth with dentures, implants, or a bridge to prevent other teeth from migrating to fill the gap.
How to Reduce Your Risk of Cavities
Catching and treating cavities is essential, but it’s just as important to prevent them from forming at all. There’s no surefire method for cavity prevention, but you do certain things to lower your risk, such as:
- Customize Your At-Home Routine: Brushing and flossing twice a day is essential, but you have to tailor your tools and approach to your needs. Talk to your dentist about the right paste, brush, and brushstrokes for your teeth.
- Don’t Neglect Professional Treatment: Seeing your dentist regularly can catch cavities early on, but the care you get at these appointments also positions you to prevent them from developing at all.
- Focus on Your Diet: Certain foods and frequent snacking increase your risk of developing cavities. Sticky foods help plaque form and frequent snacking stops saliva from washing food particles away.
- Align Your Smile: Crowded or rotated teeth are difficult to clean effectively. Using braces or aligners to align them will help you clean away plaque more easily.
- Take Care of Your Gums: Enamel is the first line of defense your teeth have against cavities. However, tooth roots don’t have enamel. If your gums recede, they expose the defenseless roots, making it easy for cavities to form.
- Think About Medication and Chronic Conditions: Certain medications and medical conditions increase the risk of cavities — particularly anything that causes dry mouth or brings stomach acid near the teeth.
- Replace Older Dental Work: When dental work ages, both the restoration and bonding weaken, making it easier for bacteria to reach the teeth. The restoration can also hold it there, allowing cavities to form more quickly.
- Keep Appliances Clean: Whether they’re fixed or removable, dirty appliances can hold bacteria against the teeth, so clean them thoroughly and frequently.
- Treat Tooth Injuries ASAP: Injured teeth are vulnerable to bacteria. Even if you cannot see a chip or crack, if you’ve had a blow to the head or mouth or been in a car accident, get checked by your dentist.
Final Thoughts
Cavities often feel like they come on suddenly, with zero symptoms, until you’re hit with pain. But they actually often take at least six months to form, and many take years.
This is good news since it gives you lots of time to catch and treat them before you’re at the point of a root canal or tooth loss. However, many factors can speed up or slow down cavity development, so always be aware of potential signs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will everyone have at least one cavity in their life?
No, but the odds are stacked against us. About 90% of people in the U.S. will have some degree of tooth decay by age 40. A lucky few will escape without ever having a cavity, but don’t count on it.
Are cavities always caused by poor hygiene?
No, you can have excellent oral hygiene habits and still end up developing cavities. Some factors are simply outside your control. However, your habits do play a big role.
What are typically the earliest signs of cavities?
Usually, the first sign of a cavity is pain, but this isn’t the only sign. Any changes in the look or feel of the teeth indicate that something might be wrong. Also, keep watch for changes in your gums and breath.
Do cavities always hurt?
At first, no. But left untreated, cavities will eventually lead to pain. At some point, they will reach the root and cause an abscess.
Do cavities always start on the outside of the tooth?
No, bacteria in the gums can cause them to form inside the tooth. These cavities usually progress the fastest and require an X-ray to diagnose.
Do cavities always require X-rays for diagnosis?
No, but dentists will almost always require them to ensure you don’t have any hidden cavities, even if they can see one on a visual exam.
How are cavities treated?
In most cases, the dentist will drill away the decayed portions of the tooth, then clean and disinfect it, then use a filling or crown to restore it.
How can I prevent cavities?
There is no surefire way to prevent cavities. Instead, look at it as reducing risk. Focus on taking good care of your teeth, eating well, staying hydrated, and addressing medical issues that put your teeth at risk.
Is it normal for adults to get cavities?
Yes, almost everyone will have at least one in their lives. Don’t feel bad if you get one or more, despite your best efforts.
Are cavities contagious?
Cavities themselves are not contagious, but the bacteria that causes them can pass between individuals.
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