What is dental caries?

More than 80% of Ukrainians struggle with caries, half of 3-year-old children already have holes in their teeth, and the percentage of toothless adults continues to grow. Statistics show that, unfortunately, everything is not good with caries. What are its causes, how does it manifest and how to prevent caries?

What is dental caries and how to treat it

What causes tooth decay?

There can be many indirect causes of tooth decay, but tooth decay is directly caused by bacteria in the mouth, particularly those that accumulate in plaque. They metabolize sugar to form acids that demineralize ("dissolve") enamel. This is how a cavity is formed, which is popularly called a "dental cavity".

In order to live and destroy our teeth, these bacteria need sugar (glucose, fructose or sucrose), a little time and "peace", i.e. lack of or insufficient oral hygiene and too infrequent visits to the dentist. A poor diet rich in simple sugars and disaccharides, combined with not brushing the teeth after meals and/or lack of regular dental checkups and treatments directly leads to tooth decay.

Symptoms of caries

At the very beginning, caries manifests itself as rather barely noticeable white spots on the crowns, but they can be detected in the dentist's office. At the next stage (if the tooth is not treated), the stain changes its color to dark - this color is visible to the naked eye. The developing caries goes deeper (into the pulp), causing additional sensitivity and/or pain, and spreads to other teeth. Bad breath can also be one of the symptoms of carious lesions. Sometimes the decay is well hidden, developing between the teeth (interdental decay) or even in the center of the tooth, while the enamel appears intact. Therefore, sometimes it is necessary to conduct an X-ray examination for its detection.

Treatment and methods of caries prevention

In order to prevent caries, it is necessary to follow a proper diet and perfect oral hygiene and care. It is worth excluding sugar from the menu, abandoning products with a high degree of processing, do not use products with preservatives, do not drink sweet drinks and provide the body with the most important ingredients, minerals and vitamins every day. Protein, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, C, K and B12 are essential.

You should brush or at least rinse your teeth after each meal so that food residues do not accumulate between them and drink residues do not remain on them. Use dental floss or an irrigator to clean between your teeth thoroughly at least once a day (preferably before bed). It is also worth regularly using sonic toothbrushes, thanks to which it is easier to prevent the formation of plaque. From time to time it is also good to fluoridate the teeth with fluoride toothpaste or to support the remineralization of the enamel with special preparations (rinses or gels with minerals).

But sometimes it happens that despite caries prevention, enamel demineralizes (for example, due to its individual properties, the specific composition of saliva, etc.). Then you need to start treating caries at the dentist as soon as possible.

Caries removal in the office consists in cleaning the lesion and filling the cavity with the appropriate dental material. To stop the disease process, it is necessary to cure all teeth affected by caries, as well as to carry out proper prevention, remembering that caries can be contracted from someone else.

How to protect children from caries?

Caries prevention in children should be started at the stage of eruption of the first milk teeth. Then carious bacteria can attack, and the destruction of primary teeth affects the further "condition" of permanent teeth. What do you absolutely need to remember?

• ● Oral hygiene is of primary importance. Milk teeth must be washed! Be sure to take it in the morning and in the evening, and preferably after every meal. It is important to choose a toothbrush that is suitable for the child's mouth and teeth, as well as to use a toothpaste that corresponds to the child's age.
• ● Baby teeth also need to be treated immediately after enamel changes or cavities to prevent the spread of cavities.
• ● Do not give your baby sugary drinks, especially if he is still drinking from a pacifier and/or at night or between meals.
• ● You should exclude sweets from the diet and reduce snacking between meals so that the pH in the mouth remains at the proper level for as long as possible.
• ● It is best to avoid foods that require prolonged chewing and/or that stick to the teeth.
• ● You cannot allow your baby to get caries from others, so do not share cutlery, lick the baby's pacifier, etc.

For effective caries prevention, regular examinations by a children's dentist are also necessary (at least once every six months). In addition to assessing the state of the dentition, the dentist can protect milk teeth by sealing molar fissures and varnishing the smooth surfaces of the teeth.