The word “CARIES” is derived from the Latin word meaning ‘ROT’ or ‘DECAY’. Dental caries is an infections microbiological disease that results in localized dissolution and destruction of the calcified tissues of the teeth.
What causes dental caries?
Various theories have been given to explain the dental caries but most commonly accepted theory is chemicoparasitic theory given by Miller. According to this theory bacteria causes the fermentation of food and produces acid. This acid causes the dissolution of the tooth surface resulting in caries.
Dental Caries is a multifactorial disease. Various factors responsible for the carious process are
Tooth surface:
If the tooth has deep pits and fissures it is more prone to caries as compared to the tooth which has shallow pits and fissures. The teeth which are not well aligned or are rotated cannot be cleaned properly. Food impaction is more and they are caries prone.
Flow, viscosity, and constitution of saliva:
Saliva also influences the incidence of caries. If the salivary flow is less as in dry mouth or the viscosity of saliva is more then the incidence of caries increases. Saliva has some antibacterial properties which influences the caries incidence.
Dental plaque:
It is the main culprit to cause caries. Plaque is a soft bacterial deposit which is formed on the teeth when they are not properly cleaned. Plaque holds the caries causing bacteria and the acid produced by them close to the tooth, which causes decalcification of the tooth. It also prevents the saliva’s antibacterial property to act on the bacteria causing caries as it forms the protective layer around the bacteria.
Nature of diet:
It is also one of the most important factors. refined sticky diet which sticks to the teeth is more cariogenic as the microbes get more time to ferment the food to produce acid which causes the decalcification of the teeth and hence the caries. Diet rich in roughage causes less caries as it helps in fast clearing of food from the oral cavity. Fluoride, vitamin A,B Complex, K ,D are considered to inhibit the caries incidence to some extent.