What Does A Cavity Look Like? Symptoms And When To See A Dentist

Maybe your like

HealthlineSubscribeWhat Does Tooth Decay Look Like?

Medically reviewed by Jennifer Archibald, DDS — Written by Jennifer Larson on August 28, 2020

Cavity symptoms
What do pre-cavities look like?
Can a cavity heal?
Seeking medical help
Cavity on an X-ray
Prevention
Summary

A cavity is a hole in your tooth caused by decay over time. Symptoms include white or dark spots on the tooth, or you may feel a hole with your tongue.

You never want to hear a dentist say that you have a cavity. You might not even know you have a cavity until certain symptoms become impossible to ignore.

Unfortunately, once you have a cavity, you’re going to need a dentist to address it. To avoid the need for a filling, you’ll want to take good care of your teeth and watch out for early signs that something might be wrong.

cavity, tooth decay, what does a cavity look like — The black spot seen on the tooth indicates a cavity.

Signs you may have a dental cavity

Sometimes, a very small cavity is impossible for you to detect by yourself. A dentist would need to probe your tooth or even take an X-ray of your teeth to find it. At some point, a cavity will begin to make itself known to you. Here are a few common symptoms of a developing cavity.

Toothache

Your tooth may throb or ache, and you may find yourself poking your tongue up against it. The pain may become especially acute when you eat something hot, cold, or really sweet.

Sensitivity

You’re finding that one of your teeth is much more sensitive to changes in temperature than it used to be. When you drink something hot or cold, you may find yourself wincing.

Discolored or dark spots on a tooth

It might be a white spot on your tooth, or it could be a dark or discolored spot. Either way, it doesn’t match the rest of your tooth, and it’s a sign that something is amiss.

Hole in the tooth

It might be a tiny hole. Or it might be a larger hole or crack that you can feel with your tongue. If you can spot a hole in your tooth, you’re looking at some dental work on the horizon.

Swelling or bleeding gums

Your gums may look raw, red, or swollen, especially close to the tooth line. There may even be some bleeding from your gums.

Bad breath

Bad breath could just be the result of the onions you ate for lunch. But bad breath that doesn’t go away, even after you’ve brushed your teeth or used mouthwash, could mean be a sign of a cavity. Persistent bad breath is often a sign of gum disease.

»MORE:Get care for dental pain in as little as 15 minutes with Optum Now Online Care.

Optum Now is operated by RVO Health. By clicking on this link, we may receive a commission. Learn more.

What does the start of a cavity look like?

Any food debris left behind in your teeth can intermingle with bacteria in your mouth and begin to form a thin sticky coating called plaque. It can even form on your teeth near your gumline and cause gingivitis to develop.

Gingivitis, which is inflammation of the gums, is a known cause of tooth decay and cavities. You might start to notice that a section of gumline is becoming a little tender or that a tooth is starting to ache a bit. These signs could be your body warning you that a cavity is starting to develop.

You might notice a little white spot on your tooth, which is a sign that your tooth is losing important minerals that keep it strong and healthy. This process is called demineralization.

You may not have any symptoms at all, which is why it’s important to embrace prevention efforts, too.

Can you reverse a cavity?

You can’t reverse or heal a cavity, per se. But you can halt the problem of tooth decay, and possibly reverse it if the decay is in the enamel.

If your teeth are losing minerals, you can take steps to stop that process so your tooth enamel can strengthen and return to health before a cavity develops.

This typically includes making sure to remove any debris, including food particles, that might remain on your teeth after eating or drinking sugary beverages.

When to see a dentist

Generally speaking, you should see a dentist for routine dental care on a regular basis. This can vary depending on your needs and your teeth. The American Dental Association recommends scheduling regular visits with a dentist for routine dental examinations. This might be once or twice a year.

You shouldn’t wait until your next appointment rolls around if you’re experiencing any trouble.

Head to your dentist anytime you notice a change to your gums or any of your teeth, particularly if there’s pain or swelling involved. So, if your gums are puffy and bleeding or one of your teeth begins aching, it’s worth calling a dentist.

What does a cavity look like on an X-ray?

You might be wondering what dentists are looking for when they peer at tooth X-rays.

They may be looking for confirmation that a cavity exists in one or more teeth. Typically, a cavity shows up on an X-ray as a darker spot or a shadow on a tooth. Meanwhile, a typical filling shows up as a much brighter spot on the tooth.

How to prevent cavities

Now for some good news: Prevention really does work. You can stop the loss of minerals in your teeth and replenish those minerals, so you won’t be at risk for developing tooth decay and cavities in the future. This is a process called remineralization.

You probably already know one way to prevent cavities from developing: brushing your teeth twice a day.

Using a toothpaste with fluoride, you can brush away any of the debris and bacteria that form plaque on your teeth and at your gumline. When you brush your teeth with fluoridated toothpaste, you’re also helping the enamel on your teeth to repair itself and remineralize.

Research has shown that using a high-fluoride toothpaste helps even more than toothpaste without fluoride.

Some of the other strategies that can help you prevent cavities from developing:

Floss your teeth every day.
Limit the sugary foods you eat so residue doesn’t wind up lingering on your teeth.
Brush your teeth after eating sticky, sugary foods.
Drink some fluoridated water every day.
Ask a dentist about getting a supplemental fluoride treatment.
Talk to a doctor if you have dry mouth, since it can lead to tooth decay.
Chew sugar-free chewing gum, which research suggests can reduce bacteria that can lead to cavities.
Ask about dental sealants for your or your child’s teeth.

Additionally, ongoing research suggests there may be other ways to remineralize your teeth while the decay is still limited to the enamel.

Takeaway

Visit your dentist for regular checkups, especially if you notice pain or swelling.

If a dentist spots a cavity or tooth decay on one of your teeth, they’ll work with you to discuss the best way to proceed, which will typically be a filling.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Abou Neel E, et al. (2016). Demineralization-remineralization dynamics in teeth and bone. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5034904/
American Dental Association. (n.d.). Decay. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/d/decay
American Dental Association. (n.d.). Gum disease. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/g/gum-disease
American Dental Association. (2019). Oral health topics. https://www.ada.org/en/member-center/oral-health-topics/toothpastes
American Dental Association. (n.d.). Your top 9 questions about going to the dentist—answered! https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/dental-care-concerns/questions-about-going-to-the-dentist
Dogan S, et al. (2018). Biomimetic tooth repair: Amelogenin-derived peptide enables in vitro remineralization of human enamel. DOI: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsbiomaterials.7b00959
Emamieh S, et al. (2015). The effect of two types chewing gum containing casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate and xylitol on salivary Streptococcus mutans.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4450522/
Iafisco M, et al. (2018). Fluoride-doped amorphous calcium phosphate nanoparticles as a promising biomimetic material for dental remineralization. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-35258-x
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Cavities/tooth decay. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cavities/symptoms-causes/syc-20352892
Mickenautsch S, et al. (2007). Sugar-free chewing gum and dental caries: a systematic review. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-77572007000200002
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. (2018). The tooth decay process: How to reverse it and avoid a cavity. https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/childrens-oral-health/tooth-decay-process
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. (n.d.) Dry mouth. https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/dry-mouth
Srinivasan M, et al. (2014). High-fluoride toothpaste: a multicenter randomized controlled trial in adults. DOI: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cdoe.12090/full
Walsh T, et al. (2019). Fluoride toothpastes of different concentrations for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents. DOI: http://10.1002/14651858.CD007868.pub3

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Jennifer Archibald, DDS — Written by Jennifer Larson on August 28, 2020

Health Conditions

Condition Spotlight

Wellness Topics

Product Reviews

Featured Programs

Featured

Lessons

Newsletters

Lifestyle Quizzes

Health News

This Just In

Top Reads

Video Series

Find Your Bezzy Community

Follow us on social media