What is dental caries? What are its causes?

Dental caries is a multifactorial disease characterized by demineralization and destruction of the hard tissues of the teeth caused by acids produced by dental plaque.

Bacteria naturally present in the mouth feed on the food debris that accumulates on the surface of the teeth, releasing acids that over time destroy the tissue layers of the teeth.

If left untreated, small cavities begin to form, which over time become deeper and deeper, reaching the deeper layers of the tooth. This slow process is completely painless until it reaches the nerve.

No matter how hard the enamel is, the action of the bacteria that form bacterial plaque and the waste products they release can cause irreversible damage to the enamel. This can happen to both permanent teeth and children's baby teeth.

According to the National Survey of Children's Oral Health, the prevalence of dental caries in primary teeth is 36%.

When do cavities appear in children and why?

Known as baby bottle tooth decay, the role of bacterial plaque can begin when a baby's first tooth comes out. It is a disease associated with regular sugar intake, mostly related to the bad habit of sleeping with a bottle in the mouth. This type of enamel damage can occur in children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years.

As mentioned above, tooth decay in older children is caused by a combination of factors.

• The presence of acid-producing bacteria in the mouth.
• The susceptibility of the tooth enamel.
• Consumption of carbohydrate-rich foods such as sweets and sugary drinks.
• The state of oral hygiene.

What preventive measures are recommended?

The most important preventive measure is daily hygiene from the appearance of the first teeth. According to the World Health Organization, good dental hygiene can reduce the incidence of dental caries by up to 50%. The recommended use of children's brushes and toothpaste, regular visits to the pediatric dentist, and good eating habits are key to preventing tooth decay in children.

Of course, in addition to the above prevention methods, a novel oral cleaning technology can be used, which is the most effective and perfect way of preventing and treating cavities, known in the medical field as the GIFT method, which is able to clean the oral cavity perfectly without wearing down the enamel. It also effectively reduces the impact of the microbiota in the oral biofilm and inhibits the formation of biofilm and the maturation of plaque and caries. For more information, please click here:

A Novel, Simple, Frequent Oral Cleaning Method Reduces Damaging Bacteria in the Dental Microbiota