Riya brushed her teeth every morning, but she often forgot to brush them before going to bed. She also enjoyed sweets and sometimes ate them late at night. One day, she felt a sharp pain in one of her back teeth while eating lunch.
Her mother arranged an appointment with Dr Mehta, a dentist. At the clinic, Dr Mehta asked Riya about the pain and examined her teeth using a small mirror. He also took an X-ray, which allowed him to see parts of the tooth that were not visible from the outside.
The X-ray showed a small cavity. Dr Mehta explained that a sticky layer called plaque can collect on teeth. Bacteria in plaque use sugar from food and produce acids. Over time, these acids can damage the hard outer layer of a tooth, called enamel, and create a cavity.
Dr Mehta cleaned the damaged part of Riya’s tooth and filled the small hole with a special material. He told her that the treatment would stop the cavity from growing larger. Because the cavity had been discovered early, the procedure was simple.
Before Riya left, the dentist showed her the correct way to brush. He advised her to brush twice a day for two minutes, clean between her teeth, limit sugary snacks and visit a dentist regularly. He also reminded her that brushing too hard could hurt her gums.
Riya followed his advice. She began brushing every morning and night and chose fruit more often instead of sweets. At her next check-up, Dr Mehta was pleased to find that her teeth and gums were healthy.