Symptoms of caries

Dental caries is a bacterial disease that occurs as a result of poor oral hygiene and improper nutrition. People with rapidly growing plaque, orthodontic appliances, and those who frequently consume sugary foods are particularly vulnerable. How is caries treated and how can it be prevented?

Symptoms of caries and prevention of dental diseases

What is caries and how is it formed?

Caries is a bacterial disease of the teeth. Its development is associated with insufficient oral hygiene. This is more common in people who regularly consume sugar. It is an energy substrate for carious bacteria growing in dental plaque - Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcys sanduinus, Actinomyces, Veillonella. The acids produced by these bacteria cause enamel decalcification and initiate tooth decay, leading to tooth decay.

Acids formed as a result of carbohydrate metabolism are neutralized by saliva after about half an hour. Enamel is remineralized due to the release of calcium and phosphorus from it. For this process to occur properly, the pH of the oral cavity must be maintained above 5.5 for a long time. When we snack between meals and often eat sweet foods, too acidic pH interferes with the enamel restoration process. Remineralization is inhibited, and elements such as phosphorus, potassium and calcium are washed out of the inorganic part of the teeth, causing enamel demineralization.

Symptoms of caries

The first symptom of caries is a change in tooth color in the form of white or brown spots. They develop as a result of enamel damage. Then a cavity is formed, which increases in size. At the initial stage, caries is painless. The pain occurs when the deeper tissues of the tooth are affected, making them hypersensitive.

Stages of caries development

Caries develops in stages. At first it is visible as a white discoloration on the surface of the tooth. Then caries appear, which penetrate deeper and deeper into the layers of the tooth. Untreated caries can be complicated by a tooth abscess and the progression of the infection even to the jawbone. The stages include:

• white spots on the tooth row
• enamel demineralization
• destruction of dentine
• involvement of the tooth pulp
• abscess formation
• tooth loss

Each stage of caries development requires consultation with a dentist.

Caries treatment

How to cure caries? The first stage of caries can be prevented by implementing proper oral hygiene, fluoride-containing toothpaste and excluding sugar from the diet. A dentist should choose the appropriate fluoride preparation. But when the enamel is damaged and a carious cavity is formed, it is often necessary to put a filling. Sometimes minimally invasive caries treatment methods are used: filling, caries infiltration, preventive filling, fissure preparation, tunnel preparation, chemomechanical caries removal, abrasive preparation, laser preparation.

At the fourth stage of caries development, when the pulp of the tooth is affected, the most common treatment is root canal treatment. With more advanced caries, the tooth is removed. If the patient ignores the symptoms, there is a risk that the infection will affect not only the tooth, but also the adjacent bones.

Non-invasive treatment of early caries

The initial carious lesion, manifested as a white spot, is a sign of subsurface enamel demineralization. This enamel can be restored if the pH becomes neutral in the immediate environment and the necessary amounts of phosphate and calcium are available. This allows reconstruction of partially dissolved apatite crystals - remineralization. This process is accelerated by the presence of fluorides, oversaturation of the solution with bioavailable calcium, phosphates and a change in the pH of saliva to a more alkaline one. Fluorides are the most commonly used remineralizing agent to stop the dissolution of enamel in an acidic environment. When the pH is increased (toward close to 5.5), new larger crystals containing more fluorine are formed - fluoroapatite, fluorohydroxyapatite, which are more resistant to further demineralization. In the dental office, fluoride varnishes are usually used, which are applied 3-4 times with an interval of a week. For home use, medicated pastes with a high fluoride content, such as Duraphat 5000, Clinpro 5000, are recommended.

A phosphopeptide caseinate complex with amorphous calcium phosphate, known as Recaldent, is also used. This complex binds to the tooth surface, plaque, hydroxyapatite and soft tissues surrounding the tooth, becoming a source of bioavailable phosphate and calcium ions. This ensures remineralization, gradual reduction of the carious spot and reduction of tooth sensitivity. Products containing these complexes include Tooth Mousse and MI Paste.

Another compound called bioactive glass is sodium calcium phosphorylate, which is marketed as NovaMin. When in contact with saliva, it releases calcium, sodium and phosphorus ions. Sodium ions buffer the acidic environment, causing an increase in pH, preventing demineralization. Calcium and phosphorus ions crystallize, forming a new layer of hydroxyapatite that fills the damage. NovaMin is used in toothpastes for hypersensitive teeth, such as Sensodyne Rebuilding and Protection, as well as in remineralizing pastes, such as Sensodyne NUPRO Professional Toothpaste with NovaMin.

Caries prevention

In the prevention of caries, two main elements are most important: proper oral hygiene and limiting the consumption of sugar and food that sticks to the teeth. Foods we should avoid in particular include:

• fondant, caramel
• sticky candies with lots of toffee
• dried fruits
• sweet drinks
• jams and jams
• cookies
• White bread
• chips and crisps

Sugars such as sucrose, glucose, fructose, and maltose have the strongest cariogenic, i.e. cariogenic, potential because they are quickly converted to acids. Milk sugars such as lactose or galactose are metabolized much more slowly.

Proper oral hygiene to maintain the health of teeth and gums should consist of:

• brush your teeth at least twice a day with a soft toothbrush
• flossing at least once a day
• using mouthwash
• regular hygiene at the dentist

Caries, of course, is one of those diseases that are better to prevent than to cure. Therefore, it is necessary to systematically undergo a dental examination, to monitor proper oral hygiene and a healthy diet.