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Four things are required for caries to form: a tooth surface (enamel or dentin), caries-causing bacteria, fermentable carbohydrates (such as sucrose), and time. [20] This involves adherence of food to the teeth and acid creation by the bacteria that makes up the dental plaque. [21]
Organic acids released from dental plaque lead to demineralization of the adjacent tooth surface, and consequently to dental caries. Saliva is also unable to penetrate the build-up of plaque and thus cannot act to neutralize the acid produced by the bacteria and remineralize the tooth surface.
The most commonly recognised bacteria that are responsible for initiating the biofilm formation that can eventually lead to caries are streptococcus mutans and lactobacillus. [15] The key factors for virulence include their ability to metabolise glucose and similar sugars, their tolerance for a low pH environment, and their acidogenicity. [ 16 ]
Other bacteria, including Streptococcus mutans, are able to grow in these colonies. Streptococcus mutans is important, because it is associated with dental caries. [5] These bacteria produce the enzyme glucosyltransferase. Glucosyl transferase converts sucrose into exopolysaccharides. These exopolysacharides create a sticky environment that ...
Back teeth showing fissure system. Dental caries is an upset of the balance between loss and gain of minerals from a tooth surface. [3] The loss of minerals from the teeth occurs from the bacteria within the mouth, fermenting foods and producing acids, whereas the tooth gains minerals from our saliva and fluoride that is present within the mouth. [3]
Early childhood caries (ECC) is a multifactorial disease, with risk factors including but not limited to, cariogenic bacteria, diet practices and socioeconomic factors. [6] Deciduous teeth begin to erupt at 6 months of age, once visible in the oral cavity they are susceptible to tooth decay or dental caries. [1]
The decaying tooth root provides bacteria with an enclosed environment with low oxygen content. Consequently, the obligate and facultative anaerobes present within the oral cavity flourish and outcompete the other bacteria at the site of tooth decay, causing the dental caries to escalate into a mouth infection.
A 1930s poster from the Work Projects Administration promoting oral hygiene. Tooth decay is the most common global disease. [14] Over 80% of cavities occur inside fissures in teeth where brushing cannot reach food left trapped after eating and saliva and fluoride have no access to neutralize acid and remineralize demineralized teeth, unlike easy-to-clean parts of the tooth, where fewer ...