What are Dental Caries

Taking care of dental health is as important as taking care of any part of the body. But, certain factors coupled with negligence can cause numerous dental problems, one of the most common being dental caries. We can define dental caries as the decay of a tooth. In simple words, small holes develop in the teeth as the enamel begins to demineralize due to bacterial attack. Alternately known as cavities, caries is one of the widespread and persistent dental diseases in contemporary times. As per the Center for Disease Control and Prevention statistics, 38.1 percent of American adults have untreated dental caries. Now that you know what dental caries are, the looming question is what causes them and their symptoms. Well, read ahead to find out.

Causes of Dental Caries 

Dental caries can be found on two parts of the teeth: on the top area of the teeth where food particles come in direct contact with the teeth and in between the teeth. The former is known as occlusal caries, and the latter is known as interproximal caries. The leading causes of caries are 

1. Bacteria: They decompose the carbohydrates and produce acidic metabolites that attack the enamel.
2. Carbohydrates: We can call them the food that provides the enamel demineralization bacteria.
3. Poor oral hygiene: The lack of a proper dental hygiene routine promotes the growth of bacteria that forms plaque. 

In simpler terms, when foods rich in sugar accumulate on the teeth’ surface, the bacteria in the mouth decomposes the sugars and produces acidic metabolites. The acids perpetrate the teeth’ enamel and result in the formation of caries. Although dental caries are not hereditary, people whose family members have a history of caries are more susceptible to the condition. 

Symptoms of Dental Caries 

Evidence suggests that dental caries can occur at any point in life. Caries are mainly triggered due to negligence and ignorance, like avoiding teeth brushing, flossing, and mouthwash. Some of the typical symptoms of dental caries are:

• Toothache
• Tooth sensitivity towards hot and cold foods
• Bleeding gums
• Loose gums
• Tooth discoloration 
• Pain while chewing food

Treatments for Dental Caries

In terms of professional help, there are four treatments for dental carie:

1. Fillings: They are the most commonly used method of treating dental caries. A dentist drills into the affected part of the teeth, removes the decayed material inside the cavity and packs the space with appropriate dental fillings.
2. Crowns: They are used when a large proportion of the tooth is destroyed because of cavities. The dentist attempts to salvage the remaining tooth and fit an alloy or porcelain crown covering on it.
3. Root Canal: A dental decay may seep through the enamel and begin to attack the pulp inside. It is in such a context that the root canal procedure comes in. A dentist removes the damaged or dead nerve surrounding the blood vessels and fills the affected area.
4. Extraction: In some cases, when the tooth is damaged beyond repair, extraction remains the sole option.

It is noteworthy that dental caries can be easily avoided by maintaining a proper dental hygiene routine.