Dental caries according to who
Dental caries is tooth decay caused by acids from bacterial plaque that dissolve enamel and dentine over time.
The short answer
Dental caries, commonly called tooth decay or a cavity, is a disease in which plaque acids remove minerals from tooth structure.
What is the direct answer?
What does this question mean?
Caries begins when bacteria in dental plaque use fermentable carbohydrates and produce acids. Repeated acid exposure can demineralize enamel, then progress into dentine and eventually irritate the pulp if untreated.
What can you do next?
Brush with fluoride toothpaste, clean between teeth, limit frequent sugary or acidic exposures, and attend examinations. A dentist may use visual inspection, probing when appropriate, bitewing radiographs, and risk assessment to identify disease.
When should you seek dental care?
See a dentist for sensitivity, a visible hole, staining with a rough surface, food trapping, or toothache. Urgent care is needed for facial swelling, fever, or difficulty opening the mouth or swallowing.
What should you ask the dentist?
Ask whether the lesion is active or arrested, which tooth layers are involved, and whether fluoride, monitoring, a sealant, or a restoration is indicated.
Frequently asked questions
Caries is the disease process. A cavity is the hole or loss of tooth structure that may result when the process progresses.
Can early caries be reversed?
Early mineral loss without a hole may be managed with fluoride and plaque-control measures. A formed cavity cannot be brushed back into place.
Why do dentists take bitewing X-rays?