Dental caries who

Dental caries is tooth decay caused by acid from bacterial plaque, and it can affect anyone with susceptible tooth surfaces.

Caries begins when plaque bacteria use fermentable carbohydrates and produce acids that remove minerals from enamel. It can progress through enamel into dentin and eventually reach the pulp, where pain and infection may develop.

Brush with fluoride toothpaste, clean between teeth, limit frequent sugary or starchy exposures, and arrange examinations to detect early mineral loss or a cavity. Treatment may involve fluoride support, a restoration, or pulp treatment depending on depth.

See a dentist for tooth sensitivity, a visible hole, a dark or chalky area, food trapping, swelling, or spontaneous pain. Facial swelling, fever, or swallowing difficulty needs urgent attention.

Ask whether the lesion is an early mineral change or a cavitated area, how deep it is, and whether fluoride treatment, a filling, or pulp therapy is indicated.