Caries

Caries is a bacterial disease in which acids destroy the protective tooth enamel. Children are born caries-free, but almost all adults in Austria already have caries damage.

Caries is contagious, the bacteria are usually transmitted from parents or siblings to the child – such as by licking the pacifier. After infection, caries bacteria persist in the oral cavity, decompose carbohydrates from food and convert them into acids that attack the enamel. If tooth decay is left untreated, the disease can spread to the dentine, the teeth become loose, start to shake and, in the worst case, can fail. Appropriate oral hygiene and preventive care by the dentist protect against tooth loss and keep the teeth healthy.

Caries – causes, symptoms, stages – treatment

December 18, 2018

Caries

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Caries

Caries is that most common tooth disease in the industrialized countries. The term caries is derived from the Latin expression caries and means Putrefaction or rottenness. Dental caries (Caries dentium) is one contagious infection, that can be transferred from one person to another.

Overview of this article

Definition and stages of caries

There are different stages of tooth decay:

in the Initial stage (stage 1) there are no or only slight symptoms. The tooth can have white spots on the affected areas, too "chalk smudges" called, have. These stains result from the fact that the tooth enamel loses minerals.
in the second stage Bacteria penetrate the dentin (dentine) and multiply there. At this stage, there is often pain due to holes in the tooth.
in the third stage The caries spreads to the tooth pulp (nerve tissue), causing severe toothache.
Without treatment, the caries attacks in the fourth stage finally the tissue around the tooth. An extremely painful tooth abscess can form and ultimately lead to the tooth falling out.

Causes and development of caries

Several factors are involved in the development of tooth decay. The two main risk factors, that favor caries are

poor nutrition and
a lack of dental care.

With tooth decay acids attack the tooth surface on. The acids are produced by bacteria in the plaque. The Dental plaque, forms more if the teeth are not properly brushed. Plaque consists of food residues, saliva and bacteria. The bacteria convert sugar from sugary food into acids.