Tooth decay is a transmittable disease caused by bacteria in the mouth that feed on sugars and produce acid, leading to demineralization of enamel over multiple acid attacks. The balance between protective saliva factors and pathological acid-producing bacteria and frequent sugar consumption determines the risk of developing caries. A 1997 survey found that untreated tooth decay was present in 6% of 1-year-olds, rising to 48% of 4-year-olds, showing the importance of preventing decay in young children.

1. Dental
What is tooth decay?
 Transmittable infectious disease
 Develops with presence of teeth,
sugars and bacteria
 Plaque is bacteria and food
substances that stick to teeth
 Bacteria + foods high in sugars &
other carbohydrates = damage to
teeth
 Ingestion turns food into acid
 Acid attacks enamel within 20
minutes
 After MANY acid attacks = tooth
decay may occur
Dental
Decay and
the Caries
Process
What do you know
about your teeth?

2. The Caries Balance
Pathological Factors = Caries
 Acid-producing bacteria
 Frequently eating/drinking of
fermentable carbohydrates
 Subnormal saliva flow and/or
function
Protective Factors = No Cares
 Saliva flow & components
 Fluoride, calcium, phosphate
 Antibacterials: chlorhexidine,
iodine, xylitol
The balance can be used to assess the
risk of developing caries in the future,
or why you have caries now. The
balance between demineralization &
remineralization isthe KEY to
progression or reversal of dental caries
at any time.
Children & Dental Decay
Survey done on 5,000 children in
1997 found active untreated decay
present:
 6% of 1 year olds
 22% of 2 year olds
 35% of 3 year olds
 48% of 4 year olds
Bacteria that causes
tooth decay…
 Streptococcus mutans –
primarily implicated in dental
decay
Streptococcus mutans
found in mouth?
 Primarily in surfaces of teeth
 One tooth could have many while
the next tooth has very little
 Often not spread evenly
throughout your mouth
 Bacteria is present in highest
concentrations in the crevices, pits
and fissures of anatomy of teeth
What factors contain
sugars that feed the
Streptococcus mutans?
 All carbohydrates
 Mainly sugars
 Sucrose = candies, cookies, soda
 Starches = white bread, potato
chips, pretzels & other processed
snacks