Synonyms in the broadest sense
Tooth decay
Definition
Caries is the destruction of the hard tooth substance by external influences. There are places on teeth that are particularly often affected by caries. Caries is caused by bacteria. They form acids which attack the tooth.
Causes
Caries is a problem that occurs at almost every age. Basically, children’s teeth should not be affected by caries. With a healthy and balanced diet from the beginning, tooth decay occurs only in very rare cases.
An unhealthy diet for children, especially with lots of sweets, favours the development of caries. Caries is caused by bacteria. These bacteria are located in the plaque.
The bacteria decompose sugar and its products into acid. These acids demineralize the hard tooth substance, including the enamel, and thus cause tooth decay. It is not only the plaque that has a positive effect on the development of caries, but also a correspondingly long exposure time of the acids plays a decisive role. Regular tooth brushing should therefore be part of daily oral hygiene. The composition and pH value of saliva is also important: the lower the pH value, the more damaging the saliva is to the tooth substance.
Course of caries
Depending on where the caries finds its point of attack, it takes a longer or shorter period of time until it attacks the tooth. The outermost layer around the tooth is the enamel. Once it is attacked and destroyed, it cannot grow back.
It is quicker to attack the tooth at the neck of the tooth – if it is not covered by gums, i.e. if it is exposed – directly at the cement. At the beginning, complaints are usually rare, because one can only see the tooth areas affected by caries. Pain is more likely to be a late symptom.
The dentist detects dark discolored areas. If these cannot be removed, i.e. scratched away, the diagnosis of dental caries should be considered. Particularly dangerous are caries forms that cannot be seen from the outside.
However, these usually affect adults. The caries is inside the tooth and can only be made visible by means of an X-ray. However, since X-rays should be avoided in children, diagnosis is difficult.
In special pediatric dental practices, the equipment is so modern that there are radiation-reduced X-ray machines especially for children. As mentioned above, children’s teeth are generally not affected. In order to prevent the development of caries within the tooth, the high fluorine content of today’s toothpastes must be taken into consideration.
The diagnosis of caries is made by the dentist. He detects dark areas on the teeth. Here there are areas that are particularly frequently affected by caries. Exposed tooth necks are not only sensitive to pain but also susceptible to caries. The chewing surfaces or interdental spaces are most at risk of being affected by caries.
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