Caries
Tooth decay, also known as caries (lit. 'rottenness', from Latin), is the breakdown of teeth due to acids produced by bacteria. The resulting dental cavities may be many different colors, from yellow to black. Symptoms may include pain and difficulty eating. Complications may include periodontal disease (i.e., inflammation of the tissue around the tooth), tooth loss, infection, or dental abscess formation. Tooth regeneration is a field of ongoing stem cell-based study that aims to find methods to reverse the effects of decay; current treatments are limited to symptom management.
The cause of cavities is acid from bacteria dissolving the hard tissues of the teeth (enamel, dentin, and cementum). The acid is produced by the bacteria when they break down food debris or sugar on the tooth surface. Simple sugars in food are these bacteria's primary energy source, and thus a diet high in simple sugar is a risk factor. If tooth demineralization is greater than tooth remineralization from sources such as saliva, caries results. Risk factors include conditions that result in less saliva, such as diabetes mellitus, Sjögren syndrome, and some medications, including psychostimulants, antihistamines, and antidepressants. Dental caries is also associated with poverty, poor oral hygiene, and receding gums, resulting in gingival recession (i.e., exposure of the roots of the teeth).
Prevention of dental caries includes regular teeth cleanings, a low-sugar diet, and small amounts of regular fluoride exposure. Brushing one's teeth teeth twice daily and flossing between the teeth once daily is recommended. Fluoride may be acquired from water, salt, or toothpaste, among other sources. Treating a mother's dental cavities may decrease the risk in her children by decreasing the number of certain bacteria she may spread to them. Screening can result in earlier detection. Depending on the extent of destruction, various treatments can be used to restore the tooth to proper function, or the tooth may be removed. There is no known method to grow back large amounts of tooth. The availability of treatment is often poor in the developing world, according to the World Health Organization. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen may be taken for pain.
As of 2016, approximately 3.6 billion people (48% of the global population) had dental caries in their permanent teeth. The World Health Organization estimates that nearly all adults have dental caries at some point in time. In baby teeth, it affected about 620 million people, or 9.02% of the global population, in 2010. Bagramian and colleagues reported in 2009 that caries had become more common in both children and adults. The disease is most common in the developed world due to greater simple sugar consumption, but less common in the developing world.
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