Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-6pm | Sat 8am-1pm

dental cavity

Are Cavities Contagious? Things You Need To Know About Cavities

If you’ve culminated high levels of bacteria, it’s likely to cause dental cavities. Dental cavities is a tiny opening or hole that forms on the hard surface of your teeth. This is a preliminary stage of tooth decay and would require emergency treatment to clean the affected area to prevent it from spreading to your gums and jawbone. 

However, are cavities contagious? Can it be passed on from person to person? This is not a trick question and is a valid question that patients are popularly asking. 

What Is A Tooth Cavity?

A tooth cavity is when the hard surface of your tooth is permanently damaged, leading to a tiny hole forming. This is the consequence of tooth decay caused by the build-up of bad bacteria. When a cavity forms, the dentist would typically recommend filling treatment or a root canal, depending on the severity of the damage. 

This is a consequence of not looking after your teeth properly through a poor oral hygiene routine. This means not brushing your teeth and frequent snacking on sugars and starch. 

So, Can Tooth Cavities Spread?

You may be surprised to know that the answer to are cavities contagious is true. Tooth cavities can be spread from person to person. Think about how a cavity is caught up by another person when swapping spit. Studies show that cavities can be transmitted from person to person. 

Studies also find that if a person has a cavity, another person can develop it through kissing. Bacteria are contained in saliva, and saliva can be swapped from person to person through kissing. This means that harmful bacteria can transmit from one person to the other. 

How Do I Avoid Spreading A Cavity?

If you’re aware of a cavity forming inside the mouth, this should be enough to tell you that you must be careful how you act around other people. When it comes to eating food and drinking, avoid sharing food and drink because the saliva can quickly spread. For example, if you’re having a drink together, don’t use the same straw. You should also not share any of your food.

How Can I Look After My Cavity? 

Tooth cavities form if you’re not looking after your teeth through strong oral hygiene or not visiting the dentist often enough. This is true for adults and toddlers alike. However, toddlers can spread the bacterium through pacifiers and shared utensils. 

Ensure that all utensils and pacifiers are thoroughly brushed and cleaned at all times to prevent the spread of bacteria. 

If a deep cavity has formed, it is important that you visit the dentist as soon as possible. You’d likely need filling treatment if the hole isn’t too deep. Although, if it gets worse, you may need root canal treatment or even tooth extraction as a last resort. 

Consult your dentist if you have a cavity forming or have a cavity formed to avoid the damage from getting progressively worse. 

Share:

Comments are closed.

Call Now