Tooth Decay

Tooth Decay

Is infection disease that damages the teeth structure. It causes cavities. It also causes pain, loss of teeth, any dangerous cases, even death. Increased prevalence of caries was much influenced the change of diet. There are many ways to classify dental caries. At the beginning, location of caries may appear as chalky area then develops into brown hole. Caries may be seen with eyes, but sometime we need radiography to observe the teeth areas and determine how far the disease damages the teeth.

Cavities is caused by any type of bacteria that produces acid that can damage because the carbohydrate fermentation reactions, including sucrose, fructose, and glucose. That acid affects the mineral of teeth so become sensitive to low PH. When PH decreases fewer than 5.5, demineralized process will be faster than remineralized. It causes more teeth mineral dissolved and causes cavities. Predicted that 90% school age children throughout the world and most adults have suffered of caries. The highest prevalence is in Asia and Latin America, and the lowest is in Africa. There are 4 main causes of dental caries.

Teeth: There are diseases and disorders that can enhance caries risk factor. Amelogenesis imperfecta, which occurs in 1 in 718 to 14,000 people, there is a disease in which the enamel is not fully formed. Dentinogenesis imperfecta is imperfect dentin formation. In most cases, this disorder is not the main cause of caries. Anatomy of teeth also affects in caries. Slit or deep line on teeth can be a location for caries. Caries also happens in places that are often tucked away food residue.

Bacteria: Bacterias that causes caries are Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli. For root caries, the bacterias that is often found are Lactobacillus acidophilus, Actinomyces viscosus, Nocardia spp and Streptococcus mutans.

Fermentation carbohydrate: Bacteria in mouth will change glucose, fructose, and sucrose into lactad acid through fermentation. If these acid in teeth, it causes demineralized. Minerals that are needed by teeth are in saliva, fluoride tooth paste, and wash mouth. If deminerlized is still going on, then will be cavities process.

Time: The frequency of teeth in cariogenic environment can affect the development of caries. After you consumed foods that contains sugar, then bacteria in mouth can metabolize sugar into acid and lowers PH. PH can be a normal due to be neutralized by saliva and the previous process has been dissolving tooth mineral. Demineralization can occur after 2 hours.

The preventions of caries

The hygiene of mouth: Brush your teeth regularly and using mouth wash can help you to minimize the bacterias that causes mouth and teeth diseases.

Controlling your foods: Limit foods that contain sugar. Chewing a xylitol gum also can help to protect the teeth.

Fluoride therapy: This method has proven to reduce caries. Fluoride makes enamel being resistance from caries.

 

Comment

This article talks about the preventions, main causes (four causes) of dental caries, the importance of the dental hygiene, and the article explain the difference between dental caries and Amelogenesis imperfect and Dentinogenesis imperfect which ones are dental developmental disorders.

Video

Comment

I agree with this video because it is very important to have basic knowledge about the dental caries. The video analyzes some basic advices and these advices are important for prevention of caries and also it talks about the places in the mouth where people have more caries.