What you need to know about tooth decay for those who have teeth

What is caries

Caries is translated from Latin quite obviously - "decay", "destruction". This is the name of a disease in which the hard white tissue of the tooth is destroyed and a cavity is formed, that is, a hole. Gradually, the cavity increases in size and, if this growth is not stopped, completely destroys the tooth. We will modestly keep silent about the accompanying "joys" such as severe pain or infection up to blood poisoning.

The tsimes of this whole sad story is that tooth enamel is the hardest tissue in the human body. It is many times stronger than bones. For a long time, doctors could not understand how such a strong tissue is destroyed. Even put forward theories about the existence of a certain "tooth worm", which starts in the mouth and gnaws holes in the teeth.

Only in the twentieth century it became clear that it was not about mechanics (no one "gnaws" teeth, of course), but about chemistry. Teeth, incredibly resistant to mechanical stress, easily succumb to the destructive action of acids. It happens like this.

Where does caries come from?

To understand, first you need to look at the structure of the tooth. Here it is.

The basis of a tooth is dentin, a substance similar in composition to ordinary bone. Above - enamel protecting dentin. It looks like a stone, and chemically too. Essentially, enamel is mineral salts modified with magnesium, fluorine, carbon and other elements. The same salts impregnate dentin, but in a slightly smaller amount.

Growing teeth somewhere outside the body, thanks to the mineral "stone" enamel, they would be invincible. But they grow in the mouth, where it is customary to put food. Where there is food - there are bacteria, where bacteria - there are acids that interact with mineral salts and soften them. Experts from the Mayo Clinic Research Center describe Cavities / tooth decay as follows.

1. Plaque is formed

Plaque is a thin sticky film that remains on your teeth after eating. If it is not removed in time by rinsing your mouth or brushing your teeth, bacteria, Streptococcus mutans, begin to actively multiply on this film.

The situation is aggravated if the plaque is not removed for a long time: in this case, it can turn into tartar, which becomes a kind of "shield" for bacteria warmed up on the enamel.

Metabolism Streptococcus mutans has a curious feature: absorbing glucose, they secrete lactic acid. If you do not brush your teeth too thoroughly and at the same time love sweets, there will be a lot of bacteria, and the acid secreted by them - even more.

2. Microcracks and holes appear

A generous dose of acids dissolves mineral salts in tooth enamel. This leads to the formation of tiny cracks or holes in the surface of the tooth. If acid exposure continues, the lesions deepen and slowly reach dentin, which is much less protected than enamel. The decay is accelerated, and the hole in the tooth becomes apparent.

3. The destruction continues

As tooth decay develops, bacteria and the acids they produce continue their way through the dental tissue and reach the pulp, the soft connective tissue in the cavity of the tooth, in which blood vessels and nerve endings are located. The pulp becomes inflamed, swells and, since there is no room for expansion inside the tooth, it begins to squeeze the nerves in it. So, in addition to the hole and inflammation, acute pain appears.

How tooth decay is formed in children

Children are more prone to tooth decay than adults. This is due to the thinner and immature enamel on milk teeth. But there is an even more important factor - the very bacteria.

Babies are born without Streptococcus mutans in the mouth. Children are infected with Parent Fact Sheet on Caries Bacteria by their parents, passing the bacteria along with saliva. For example, when a mother feeds a baby from a spoon that she has just licked herself.

Microbes that have settled in the mouth start the process of caries formation even before the child has the first teeth.

Therefore, pediatricians urge parents not to "share" saliva.

There is one more nuance - heredity. In some people, microbes feel more comfortable in their mouths than in others. The latter, for example, can eat a lot of sweets and not suffer from tooth decay. And for the former, even a couple of chocolates a day can have the strongest destructive effect on the teeth.

For this reason, the American Academy of Pediatrics encourages Oral Health dentists to take an interest in the dental health of young parents. If mom and dad suffer from tooth decay, the baby is most likely in danger. This means that it is necessary to pay more attention to children's teeth.

How to prevent tooth decay in children and adults

Understanding what factors affect the formation of destructive acids, you can make a list of preventive measures. Here's what to do to reduce your risk of tooth decay.

1. Watch what you eat

There are foods that are especially active in clinging to teeth, creating a breeding ground for bacteria on them. These are, for example, milk, honey, ice cream, dried fruits, cookies, cakes, hard caramels and mint candies, sweet carbonated drinks. They are difficult to wash off with saliva.

Therefore, it is advisable to either completely abandon such food, or use it only when you are sure that you will be able to brush your teeth afterwards or at least rinse your mouth thoroughly with water.

2. Do not overuse snacks

The habit of chewing or sipping soda endlessly feeds the bacteria that live in your mouth. This means you create a permanent "acid bath" for your teeth.

This also applies to children: make sure that they cannot carry candy during the day. And if we are talking about babies, do not leave them to fall asleep in an embrace with a bottle of milk, mixture, fruit drink, juice or compote. Salivation during sleep is inhibited, and these drinks remain on the gums and teeth for a long time.

3. Brush Your Teeth Thoroughly

To effectively remove plaque, you need to brush for at least The Effect of Brushing Time and Dentifrice on Dental Plaque Removal in vivo for 2 minutes. And of course, follow the cleaning technique. Lifehacker has already told you how to brush your teeth correctly.

4. Choose a toothpaste with adequate fluoride content

Fluoride strengthens mineral tooth enamel and kills bacteria. The optimum fluoride content in toothpaste is 1,350–1,500 ppm. Look for this value on the package or tube.

5. Avoid dry mouth

Saliva washes away food debris and bacteria. In addition, it contains substances that neutralize acids secreted by microbes. If there is little saliva, caries becomes almost inevitable.

Drink plenty of fluids to maintain salivation. Especially if you are pregnant, engaged in physical labor, or taking medications that affect salivation. If you have doubts - consult a therapist.

6. Monitor the condition of the seals

Over the years, the fillings deteriorate, and hard-to-reach plaque forms on their uneven edges - it is difficult to wash it with saliva or brush it off. A filling that has begun to deteriorate needs to be renewed by a dentist.

7. See your doctor if you have heartburn

Heartburn is a situation when part of the gastric juice, for one reason or another, enters the esophagus. Hence the burning sensation accompanying it. But the acid can reach the mouth as well, helping existing bacteria to decay teeth.

If you regularly suffer from heartburn, work with your therapist to find and treat the cause.

8. Avoid eating disorders

Anorexia and bulimia are a direct path to accelerated erosion of tooth enamel.

9. Visit your dentist regularly

Caries develops gradually and at the initial stage can be almost invisible. The specialist will be able to detect it in time and, if necessary, prescribe procedures that can stop the destruction of tooth enamel. It is ideal to visit your dentist at least once or twice a year.

How to treat tooth decay

It depends on the extent to which tooth decay has reached in your case. The dentist will conduct an examination and, based on the results, will offer you one of the following procedures:

1. Fluoride treatment

Professional dental treatment with fluoride can help if your tooth decay is at an early stage. Such products make the enamel more resistant to acidic environments, and also slow down the growth of bacteria.

You may also be prescribed regular mouthwashes with fluoride-based fluids.

2. Sealing

During this procedure, the dentist will first remove the dental tissue affected by caries, clean the tooth from bacteria, and then cover the hole with filling material. This procedure is used in cases where caries has affected only a small part of the tooth.

3. Installation of the crown

If tooth decay has destroyed most of the tooth, filling will not help. The dentist will remove all the damage and, if the root of the tooth and even a small part of it are still intact, will install a crown on it. This is the name of a specially selected coating that replaces the destroyed tooth enamel.

4. Removal of teeth and installation of implants

Sometimes the teeth are destroyed so badly that there is nothing to cling to the crown. In this case, they are removed.

Due to the loss of one “comrade”, other teeth may become displaced. Therefore, if possible, an implant should be installed in place of the extracted tooth - an artificial structure that replaces the root of the lost tooth. In the future, you can fix the crown on it and restore the dentition.