Tooth decay is the most common problem encountered by 2/3rds of the world population. It affects people of all age groups and genders. No human is an exception for dental caries and it being multifactorial makes it even more difficult to identify the cause. Hence, there is no cure or vaccine for tooth decay or caries or cavity. HOW ARE TEETH DECAYED? It all starts with the sugars and sticky foods that you consume. Yes, the sugars you consume will be stuck on your pearly whites. Nonetheless, saliva does its best to wash away some of the food that’s stuck. But it’s the carbohydrates or sugars or sticky foods, whatever you may call them, that stay on the teeth even after saliva tries to wash. This retained food slowly attracts bacteria that are present in saliva and forms a hub of bacteria. The bacterial group thus formed into groups starts feeding off the food that is stuck on your teeth and in the process of digesting the food, bacteria starts releasing the acids onto the tooth surface. These acids are the main reason for the destruction and demineralization of the hard shell of tooth structure, enamel and dentin, forming a hole. This is how a “CAVITY” is formed. FACTORS AFFECTING TOOTH DECAY: Tetrad of factors that mainly contribute to tooth decay are: *Host: many host factors like improper oral hygiene, food habits, consuming processed sugars, in between eating habits, genetics, or saliva consistency all play a major role in determining if a person will be affected with caries or not *Microbes: Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus species are the major bacteria contributing to the initiation and progression of caries, respectively. They are common microbes found in the oral cavity, it is only when the conditions are favorable for them that they propagate and colonize on teeth causing decay. *Saliva: The normal pH of saliva is around 6.2-7.6, and the critical pH of saliva is 5.5 below, which is the most favorable condition for bacterial propagation and tooth decay. The pH of the oral cavity falls to as low as 5.5 immediately after consuming food and returns to normal only after 20 min if there is no food exposure in the meantime. *Time: Intermittent snacking is the main culprit for tooth decay. As discussed earlier, mouth pH falls below 5.5 (critical pH) every time food is consumed. So constant eating maintains low pH in the mouth, making teeth more susceptible to decay. Hence it is advisable to not rely on snacking on a daily basis to maintain good oral health.

HOW CAN YOU IDENTIFY TOOTH DECAY? There are a few signs and symptoms to identify if you actually have tooth decay. A few of them are: ● White chalky lesion on tooth ● Discoloration of the occlusal surface of the tooth ● Food lodgement on or in between teeth ● Visible black discoloration of tooth ● Breaking of enamel and fracture of crown structure ● The pain of affected tooth if caries progress ● The affected tooth looks less dense in a radiograph ● Foul odor from the affected tooth due to food lodgement ● Facial swelling due to spread of infection from teeth HOW TO TREAT A TOOTH DECAY When decay is identified at the earliest, it can be treated successfully. Prevention is better than cure in the case of caries. But there are different options that are available to treat the tooth affected with caries are: ● Restoration with various types of dental cements ● Root canal treatment - if tooth decay is deep and involves the pulp ● Crowns ● Inlays, Onlays ● Gold restorations ● Amalgam restorations All the above-mentioned treatments aim at restoring the lost tooth structure and regaining its function. HOW TO AVOID TOOTH DECAY Making a few lifestyle changes helps keep teeth healthy without cavities/caries. ● Avoid intermittent snacking ● Brushing twice daily with fluoridated toothpaste ● Flossing once daily before sleep ● Rinsing mouth every time after consuming sticky foods ● Reducing intake of processed sugars like chocolates and sodas

HOW DOES FLUORIDE AFFECT ORAL HEALTH? Teeth are made of calcium components called “hydroxyapatite crystals.” It makes teeth extremely hard and impervious to bacteria and oral fluids. Hence, enamel is the hardest substance in the human body. But due to the release of acids from bacteria growing on the food accumulated on the tooth surface, the enamel surface structure is destroyed, the hydroxyapatite is destroyed, and a cavity is formed. So, the alternative for hydroxyapatite is “Fluorapatite crystals.” When fluoride is applied to the surface of the tooth, it replaces calcium from the hydroxyapatite crystals and forms fluorapatite, which is even stronger and impervious to bacteria than hydroxyapatite. Hence, the topical application of fluoride has gained extreme popularity for the prevention of caries. Its fewer side effects on the application is also another reason for its use in daily life. FLUORIDATION METHODS TO PREVENT CARIES: TOPICAL FLUORIDES & SYSTEMIC FLUORIDES TOPICAL FLUORIDES: They can be applied professionally or will be available as OTC gels. The most commonly used fluoride components for topical application and in tubes of toothpaste are sodium fluoride and stannous fluoride. Toothpaste with 1000ppm of fluoride is recommended for adults, and 500 ppm of fluoride is recommended for children as they are effective against caries. SYSTEMIC FLUORIDES: Systemic fluorides circulate in bloodstreams and are incorporated into developing teeth. Systemic fluorides are achieved through: ● Community water fluoridation ● Salt fluoridation ● Milk fluoridation ● Fluoride tablets, drops, lozenges These are the things to keep in mind before going to the dentist’s office because your pearly whites need your utmost love and care. Now, head to our office to discuss various treatment options and help us restore your pearly white smile.