Dental caries

Dental caries

The term dental caries refers to tooth decay or cavities in teeth.

Other names

Dental caries or cavities, more commonly known as tooth decay, are caused by a breakdown of the tooth enamel. This breakdown is the result of bacteria on teeth that breakdown foods and produce acid that destroys tooth enamel and results in tooth decay.

Pathophysiology

The decay is made by bacteria destroying parts of the tooth. After enamel and dentin are destroyed and cavity reaches the dental pulp and nerves of the tooth, the tooth becomes sensitive since the nerves are exposed. Cavity may infect the jaw and sometimes cause a tooth abscess.

Dental caries

If carbohydrates remain in your mouth for enough time, caries-causing bacteria may form plaque on the tooth surface and attack the tooth.

Symptoms and signs

Dental caries usually lead to substandard breath and bad taste and sometimes pain.

Prevention

Good dental and personal hygiene which consists of brushing and flossing daily are important in prevention of dental caries.

Although dental caries are largely preventable, they remain the most common chronic disease of children aged 6 to 11 years and adolescents aged 12 to 19 years. Tooth decay is four times more common than asthma among adolescents aged 14 to 17 years. Dental caries also affects adults, with 9 out of 10 over the age of 20 having some degree of tooth-root decay.

Water fluoridation, named by CDC as one of the ten great public health achievements of the 20th century, has been a major contributor to the decline of the rate of tooth decay. Studies have shown that water fluoridation can reduce the amount of decay in children’s teeth by 18-40%.

Steps to prevent dental caries

• In addition to fluoridated water, good oral hygiene can help prevent tooth decay:
• Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
• Clean between your teeth daily with floss or interdental cleaner
• Eat nutritious and balanced meals and limit snacking
• Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral examination
• Check with your dentist about use of supplemental fluoride, which strengthens your teeth, and about use of dental sealants (a plastic protective coating) applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to protect them from decay

Also see

• Dental fluorosis
• Dental floss
• Tooth brush

Gallery

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  image of Streptococcus mutans

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  Tooth decay

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  Microbe communities attach to tooth surface and create a biofilm

• Animated image showing the shape progression of a caries lesion in the fissure of a tooth

• Curved tip of a small metal probe, tapering to a point

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  A dental infection resulting in an abscess and inflammation of the maxillary sinus

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  Tooth samples imaged with a non-coherent continuous light source (row 1), LSI (row 2) and pseudo-color visualization of LSI (row 3)

• Chart showing digitally drawn images of caries locations and their associated classifications

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  Photograph of teeth and gums on the lower right hand side of the mouth showing large caries lesions on all teeth at the level of the gum

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  Common dentistry trays used to deliver fluoride

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  Fluoride is sold in tablets for cavity prevention

External links

Classification	ICD-10: K02 DiseasesDB: 29357
External resources	MedlinePlus: 001055

• Dental caries at Curlie

• Centers for Disease Control: Dental Caries

Dental caries Resources
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