Dental caries
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The term dental caries refers to tooth decay or cavities in teeth. The decay comes from normal bacteria in your mouth. When you eat sugar, these bacteria create acid which create cavities in your teeth. Dental caries usually lead to substandard breath and bad taste. Personal hygiene caring consists of brushing,establishing good pH level by eating dairy products like yogurt,cheese,etc. and flossing daily.
After the enamel, the strong outer layer of your teeth, and the dentin are destroyed, the cavity reaches the dental pulp and nerves of the tooth, the tooth becomes sensitive since the nerves are exposed. Cavity may infect the jaw and sometimes cause a tooth abscess. This is very painful!
If carbohydrates (sugar) remain in your mouth for enough time, caries-causing bacteria may form a biofilm called plaque on the tooth surface and attack the tooth.
Dental Caries Media
(A) A small spot of decay visible on the surface of a tooth. (B) The radiograph reveals an extensive region of demineralization within the dentin (arrows). (C) A hole is discovered on the side of the tooth at the beginning of decay removal. (D) All decay removed; ready for a filling.
Diagrammatic representation of acidogenic theory of causation of dental caries. Four factors, namely, a suitable carbohydrate substrate (1), micro-organisms in dental plaque (2), a susceptible tooth surface (3) and time (4); must be present together for dental caries to occur (5). Saliva (6) and fluoride (7) are modifying factors.
A Gram stain image of Streptococcus mutans
"Stephan curve", showing sudden decrease in plaque pH following glucose rinse, which returns to normal after 30–60 min. Net demineralization of dental hard tissues occurs below the critical pH (5.5), shown in yellow.
The progression of pit and fissure caries resembles two triangles with their bases meeting along the junction of enamel and dentin.
The faster spread of caries through dentin creates this triangular appearance in smooth surface caries.
The tip of a dental explorer, which is used for caries diagnosis
A dental infection resulting in an abscess and inflammation of the maxillary sinus
