Introduction
The symptoms of caries always depend on the stage of the disease. The preliminary stage of “real caries” is decalcification processes in which minerals are released from the tooth enamel. These decalcifications can be recognized as small white spots, so-called “white spots” on the tooth surface. In some cases, even at this stage, dark or yellowish discoloration of the carious areas already occurs. This is favored by drinking tea or coffee and nicotine, because dyes can settle particularly easily in the porous decalcification zones.
In the further course of the caries
As caries progresses, the affected areas of the tooth become more and more discolored, taking on the typical “rotten” brown-black color. At this time, the affected person does not yet feel any toothache, which is why the caries is often only noticed as such very late. Once the caries has reached the dentin, some symptoms change.
Pain symptoms with caries
People affected by caries speak of a throbbing pain, which is not permanent but only felt temporarily. Furthermore, a shooting stabbing pain is described, which occurs mainly when eating cold or warm food and drinks. Also the eating of sweet food is often described as unpleasant and painful.
Since the caries in the dentin (dentin) can spread faster and the tooth is hollowed out as a result, at some point the dental framework breaks away and a hole is created. At this point, most of the symptoms of caries are perceived as such. However, it is not just the symptoms of toothache or the discovery of a hole that drive people to the dentist at this stage, often it is rather the increasing bad breath that is perceived as embarrassing and therefore particularly unpleasant.
If another caries (secondary caries) develops under a tooth filling, this tooth filling loosens and sooner or later falls out. Very deep caries defects, which already reach the pulp, cause severe, stabbing toothache. These stabbing pains disappear as the destruction of the nerve fibers located in the pulp increases, but despite the lack of pain, this situation is not without danger, because if bacteria get into the blood, it can lead to a threatening blood poisoning.
