Dental Caries? – Ask Dr. Farooq Sorathia
What Is Dental Caries?
Dental decay as we commonly know it is also known as ‘dental caries’. It is the chemical breakdown of the tooth structure due to the action of acid produced by bacteria in the mouth. Bacteria feed on the residual sugars in our mouth and produce acid as a by-product. This acid breaks down the structure of the tooth making it weak and brittle and eventually causes a cavity in the tooth. People usually complain of sensitivity or foul breath. These symptoms are a suspect for the presence of dental caries. The absence of these symptoms does not mean that a patient may not have caries. A visit to the dentist would help determine the presence of caries and X-rays would confirm the presence and extent of the decay.
For dental caries to occur, there are four main factors that play a role in its development. These are natural teeth, sugars (from the food we consume), bacteria, and time.
Unfortunately, caries can only affect natural tooth as it is organic in nature. The acid produced by bacteria has no effect on filling or crown materials. Over time, caries may develop under a filling or a crown and the filling or crown would have to be redone, depending on the extent of decay under the tooth.
Our diet these days comprises of a lot of refined sugars. These get deposited on our teeth as we chew our food, and the bacteria then consume these sugars and produce acid which compromises the integrity of the tooth. We need to minimize our consumption of sweets and carbonated drinks as these are notorious for causing caries.
Bacteria have a major role to play in our entire body. There are different kinds of bacteria present in different parts of the body. These organisms exist in a delicate balance and each has a role to play. A dental plaque which is present in the mouth is responsible for causing dental caries. It may cause other conditions in the mouth as well, but primarily, it can cause dental caries. The importance of brushing and flossing is to clean the residual food from the teeth and the surrounding tissues and reduce the amount of dental plaque present in the mouth. The reduced number of bacteria present on the teeth combined with the removal of food debris from the teeth will reduce the chances of dental decay.
The process of developing caries takes time. Not brushing for just one day will not cause dental caries. It takes a few months to years for dental caries to develop. The saliva acts as a cleansing agent which helps reduce the amount of residual food on the teeth.
In conclusion, it is important to manage our diet and brush and floss regularly so that we can keep our pearly whites healthy and strong for many years!
