Caries is considered the most common dental pathology that affects patients of any age. The maximum incidence rate is recorded in children of preschool and school age, as well as people over 30 years old. The development of caries is facilitated by natural abrasion and thinning of the enamel coating resulting from increased stress on the chewing surface of the teeth. For this reason, the first cavities are formed mainly on large and small molars, intended for grinding and chewing food.

Caries on the front teeth is a rather serious aesthetic problem and can lead to the development of psychological complexes. But this is not the only reason why pathology needs to be treated with time and enough attention should be paid to its prevention. Carious teeth are a constant source of infection, which can spread to the lower respiratory tract, nasopharynx, and paranasal sinuses.

During pregnancy, caries can lead to the entry of pathogenic microorganisms into the bloodstream and infection of the fetus, fraught with malformations and developmental defects. In order not to waste time and seek help in time, it is important to know what caries looks like and how it manifests itself.

Causes and pathological factors

The main reason for the development of caries is the activity of pathogenic microorganisms that enter the oral cavity with poor-quality food or raw water. The dirt on the surface of the hands also contains a large number of germs and bacteria and can cause the growth of disease-causing flora.

Proper brushing and use additional funds and hygiene methods help completely remove bacterial plaque from the surface of the teeth, but if a person neglects sanitary and hygienic standards, the risk of caries will be very high.

The likelihood of the formation of carious cavities is lower in people with strong immunity, since the cells immune system are able to suppress the reproduction and activity of bacteria and prevent the onset of the pathological process. The provoking factors include any conditions that negatively affect the immune system and can cause a weakening of the protective functions of the cells of the mucous layer.

These include:

Violation of the secretory function of the salivary glands can also lead to the development of caries. The saliva of humans and some animals (for example, dogs) contains lysozyme, a type of enzyme that has antibacterial properties. Lysozyme destroys the cell membrane of bacteria and causes their death, therefore, with a lack of saliva, the natural defense mechanisms of the oral cavity cannot work at full strength.

Don't forget the role of nutrition in dental health. The daily diet should contain a sufficient amount of foods that contain calcium and phosphorus. All types of seafood and fish are especially rich in these elements. Calamari, sesame seeds, hard cheese and cottage cheese products are considered the record-holder for calcium content.

Important! Essential element that makes up tooth enamel is fluoride. The main source of fluoride compounds for human body is drinking water. If it does not contain enough of this element, a fluoride deficiency can develop, leading to a thinning of the enamel coating. You can check the level of fluoride in tap water in private laboratories. The cost of a sample, depending on the region, can range from 3000 to 7000 rubles.

What does the disease look like at an early stage?

The initial manifestations of caries are deformation and demineralization of tooth enamel. In this process, the most important mineral salts, which make up more than 95% of the volume of the outer layer of the tooth, are actively washed out of the tissues of the enamel coating of the dental crown. Externally, the initial caries can be determined by the characteristic spots of white or cream color (dentists call them chalky spots) located on the surface of the tooth enamel. These areas are characterized by roughness, which can be determined by running the tip of the tongue over them.

At the same time, other symptoms of the infectious process may appear, for example:

• bad breath;
• slight pain when interacting with acid-containing products, cold or hot air currents (indicates hyperesthesia of the tooth enamel);
• inflammation of the gums, which disappears without specific treatment in 10-14 days;
• lack of smoothness and shine of the enamel layer in areas with signs of a carious process.

The initial stage of the disease is the only form of caries that can be cured with medication at home. For this, the patient is prescribed topical medications containing an increased concentration of fluoride or bioavailable calcium. They can come in the form of a varnish or gel that is applied to the surface of the teeth over a period of several months. The main disadvantage of such drugs is their high cost (in the range of 2000-3000 rubles).

Note! The duration of such treatment can vary from 2-3 months to six months. It is necessary to use the funds of this group strictly according to the scheme recommended by the doctor, since an overdose can negatively affect the condition of the teeth and even cause systemic poisoning of the body.

Medium and deep lesion

If the patient did not receive the necessary treatment at an early stage of caries, the pathological process spreads into the deep layers of dentin - the main solid mass that makes up the tooth. The dentin located in the dental crown is covered with protective enamel. The root part of the dentin is surrounded by a cement that has a structure bone tissue... When the enamel breaks down, the infectious process penetrates the dentin layer, which contains many nerve endings. At this stage, a person develops a sharp or dull pain, which can intensify during meals and drinks and when pressing on the affected area.

The area with a carious process darkens and takes on a dark yellow or brown color (in some cases, black cavities can be observed). Dark dots and lines appear on the surface of the tooth, which after a few weeks will become carious cavities in the form of holes different sizes... This process is explained by the decay of hard tissues and the growth of bacterial flora, whose representatives feed on dead and decayed cells and gradually destroy dentin.

The result of deep caries in the absence of timely therapy always becomes acute pulpitis - inflammation of the pulp (dental nerve). The pathology is accompanied by severe pain syndrome, which is difficult to relieve with pain medications. With pulpitis, the nerve is often removed - dentists call such a dead tooth. The dead tooth is more susceptible to destructive processes and hypersensitivity reactions, so it is better not to bring the disease to the lesion of the pulp and to treat caries even at the stage of the demineralized spot.

Fissure lesion: what does it look like?

Fissures are small depressions and grooves on the surface of the chewing teeth, resulting from a constant chewing load. It is quite difficult to recognize fissure caries on your own, since it is not always possible to conduct a visual inspection on your own due to the inconvenient location of large and small molars.

The situation is complicated if the grooves are too deep - in this case, only a dentist can identify a carious process. If there are no cavities on the surface of the tooth, pathological changes can be determined by scanning with special solutions that are applied to the teeth and highlight areas with carious processes.

Signs of fissure caries are:

• streaks of brown or black on the surface of the chewing teeth;
• painful reaction during chewing or brushing teeth;
• aching moderate pain that occurs at rest in the absence of any mechanical impact.

Note! To prevent damage to fissures, the doctor may suggest filling the groove with a special hermetic material (dental sealant). The procedure helps to minimize the risks of infectious processes on the surface of fissures and reduces the risk of caries on the chewing teeth by 40%.

Tooth decay: signs

The cervical area is considered the most vulnerable to pathogenic factors, since the thinnest layer of tooth enamel is located there. Because of this, carious cavities in the cervical area form faster than in the other part of the tooth. At first, a person may notice small dots in the lower part of the teeth (almost at the very gums), which over time begin to grow and form a carious cavity. The defect can spread to the root area, as well as reach the middle of the dental crown. With such a clinical picture, it is practically impossible to avoid breaking and decay of the tooth.

The treatment regimen for cervical caries is quite complex and includes several stages:

Note! To reduce the risk of recurrence, dentists recommend polishing and grinding the existing filling. The first procedure should be performed immediately after filling the cavity. Further polishing should be done in accordance with the recommendations of the attending physician.

What does a filling defect look like in recurrent caries?

The situation when it comes back again after treatment occurs in 20-30% of patients. Experts believe that the main reason for this is non-compliance with the doctor's recommendations after treatment. Improper brushing of teeth, insufficient hygiene measures, consumption of large amounts of sugar and foods with a high content of carbohydrates, glucose and fruit sugars - all this can lead to recurrence of caries and the need to replace filling material.

Also, the causes of recurrent caries can be:

• doctor's mistakes in the treatment process;
• insufficient calcium intake;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• deep fissures on the surface of the chewing teeth;
• incomplete removal of decayed tissue;
• erasure of the filling material or its shrinkage.

In case of recurrence of the disease, the first sign may be a change in the color of the filling, yellowing of the tooth enamel, the appearance of black dots. If the pathological process proceeds under the filling, caries can be noticed only after the formation of a volumetric carious cavity, which will go beyond the edges of the installed material.

How to prevent tooth decay?

The main preventive measures to prevent caries and other infectious processes in the oral cavity are correct and timely brushing of teeth and correction of the diet. The daily menu should contain foods rich in calcium and phosphorus, dairy drinks, fresh vegetables, berries and fruits.

It is recommended to regularly consume fresh herbs, but it is important to monitor the acid content. For example, sorrel contains a lot of oxalic acid, which negatively affects tooth enamel and can cause dental hyperesthesia.

The toothpaste and brush should be High Quality... It is better to buy products from well-known manufacturers that have established themselves on the market and produce several lines of therapeutic and prophylactic hygiene products designed to eliminate various dental problems.

Toothpastes and brushes from well-known manufacturers and their cost

Name	Average cost of pasta	Average brush cost
	200-240 rubles	190 rubles
	30-60 rubles	80 rubles
	50-110 rubles	30-130 rubles
	150-180 rubles	120 rubles
	220 rubles	170-220 rubles

To prevent tooth decay, it is necessary to limit the consumption of berries, citrus fruits, pickles and other foods containing acids. You should also abandon confectionery, carbonated drinks, products with the addition of yeast and made from wheat flour of the highest grades. After each meal, rinse your mouth thoroughly with boiled water or special balms that relieve inflammation, destroy bacteria and provide an antiseptic treatment of the oral cavity.

Caries is a serious dental problem prone to rapid progression and frequent relapses, so it is important to take preventive measures to prevent it and consult a dentist in time to treat the initial stage of the carious process. A preventive examination is recommended at least 2 times a year. People prone to dental diseases, immunocompromised patients and children are advised to visit the dental office 2 to 4 times a year.

Video - What caries looks like

What causes tooth decay? This question worries many people, if they only feel a slight pain in the tooth. And it is no coincidence that this is what comes to mind first of all, since the risk of this pathology is very high. Approximately 90% of the world's population is affected by this disease.

Of course, we all know perfectly well that teeth need care and that they need to be cleaned regularly. Moreover, twice a day - in the morning and in the evening. True, it is almost impossible to completely protect yourself from such an insidious enemy. But you should not give up, you just need to understand the reasons for the appearance of this pathology.

General information about tooth decay

We all have heard the word "caries", but does everyone exactly understand its meaning? This is the name of a rather complex pathological process, due to which hard dental tissues undergo destruction over time. It is no coincidence that caries is translated from Latin as rotting, which, in fact, is the case.

As statistics show, about more than half of the total number of patients who were forced to go to the dentist have signs of this disease of varying degrees (we will consider where caries comes from later in the article).

Thanks to modern methods, it has become possible not only to carry out treatment, but also to effectively diagnose diseases. In no case should you start the disease in a severe form, since at an early stage it can be cured without resorting to a drilling operation.

With caries, the first thing to do is to damage the tooth enamel. If nothing is done, deeper layers are affected, which ultimately inevitably leads to complete

Salient feature pathology consists in a hole, which is usually formed at an advanced stage of the disease. At first it is small, but if you ignore the problem, it grows in size. And this is already an open door for all sorts of pathogens.

How does tooth decay develop?

Before considering the reasons why caries constantly appears, it is worth touching on its development. As a rule, it is not so easy to detect it at an early stage, since there is no pain, and a person simply has nothing to complain about.

People turn to a specialist when the pathology has affected the deep layers of the tooth tissue or as a result of damage to its extensive surface. Here, not only pain appears, but also characteristic signs, which consist in the manifestation of reactions to food and temperature.

In total, there are several stages of the disease:

1. Early.
2. Superficial.
3. Average.
4. Deep.

It is better not to start the pathology and try to identify the disease in a timely manner even in the early stages. In this case, there is a chance to get by with simple methods of treatment. To do this, from time to time, you should carefully examine the teeth.

initial stage

At this stage, only the shade of the tooth enamel is subject to change, and the tissues themselves have not yet been touched. This is expressed in the form of surface roughness. There are no other noticeable signs that caries has appeared on the front teeth, as well as pain.

Since pathology is easily detected, there is still a chance to fix everything. At this stage of the disease, there is simply no need to drill a tooth. To do this, use means in the form of external applications with therapeutic effect... Remineralizing solutions with the inclusion of fluorides, calcium compounds or other useful microelements are used. All this helps to strengthen the tooth enamel.

To enhance the effectiveness of therapy, the patient is additionally assigned a vitamin and mineral complex.

Superficial tooth damage

If early stage caries was not detected or ignored, then the pathology proceeds to the next stage. In this case, it is already a little easier to notice it, since the defect acquires clear features: the affected area has an oval or round shape. But the rest of the symptomatology is not different from Although a number of patients may have a tooth reaction to food or temperature stimuli.

What to do if tooth decay appears? Treatment at this stage of the pathology involves the preparation of the tooth. This is a necessary procedure to allow the filling to be securely fixed. The operation is carried out using special dyes, which makes it possible to accurately identify the affected areas of the tooth. Then they are removed during the drilling procedure.

As a result, the dentist has to choose a filling composition to match the natural shade of healthy teeth.

Average pathology

This is already a more serious stage of the disease, in which the entire surface of the tooth enamel is destroyed. But, in addition to this, the next layer is also affected - dentin. are already more pronounced due to affecting deep layers. The cosmetic defect is significantly noticeable, and during the meal, the patient may experience pain.

Treatment of this stage of the disease is not complete without a tooth preparation procedure, since not only the enamel surface is affected, but also the deep tissues have been damaged. The latter must certainly be removed.

As practice shows, if a filling is placed on a poorly cleaned cavity, then later recurrence cannot be avoided against the background of various complications.

What to do if caries appears in the middle stage? The whole procedure is carried out in the hospital as follows:

• To begin with, the affected cavity is prepared.
• Further, it all depends on the type of filling. If it contains toxic substances, then the walls and bottom of the tooth are covered with a special insulating material. When using modern non-toxic filling compounds, there is no need for such insulation.
• Finally, the dentist has to fill the cleaned (if necessary isolated) cavity with a filling.

After the composition is applied, it is necessary to finish the tooth. That is, the bite is restored, if necessary, the fissures of the molars are formed.

Deep stage of the disease

On this one, its signs are even more pronounced, and they cannot be confused with anything. If we ignore the middle stage of pathology, then the destructive process continues and penetrates even deeper. All tissues are damaged, and pronounced symptoms are due to the fact that the carious focus is located near the pulp.

In this case, the person is no longer up to the question of what causes caries on the teeth, since he experiences severe pain during meals or when performing regular hygiene - the affected tooth reacts sharply to any irritant. As soon as he disappears, the pain begins to gradually subside.

Is it possible to cure a tooth at this stage of the disease? Yes, this is possible even in such a neglected case. Only here you should be especially careful, since there is a nerve near the lesion.

In order to avoid reflex protective movements of the patient under the influence of painful sensations, local anesthesia is performed. The dentist himself will also have to work with great care, since careless movement during preparation can lead to traumatic pulpitis.

All treatment consists of three stages:

1. A healing paste is applied to partially restore the dentin and remove the irritating effect from the pulp.
2. Isolation tab.
3. Closing the cavity with a filling compound.

It follows from all this that the preparation procedure can be avoided only at the initial stage of caries. If the pathology has affected the dental tissues, then nothing can be done about it. Now it's time to go directly to clarifying the issue of what causes tooth decay.

Causes of pathology

From the moment that dentistry was formed and developed into a whole science, many specialists have developed theories regarding the occurrence of caries. There were about 400 of them in total, but most of them were left without confirmation.

Caries cannot arise by itself, since there are prerequisites for this. The oral cavity is home to a great variety of microorganisms, including the bacteria Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguis. They react chemically with carbohydrates, which are found in almost all foods. The result is organic acid that is not good for your teeth.

Only that is why some people are forced to visit the dentist almost every year, if not more often, while others have caries much less often ?! It's all about the characteristics of the body. If a person has weak immunity, then one should not be surprised why tooth decay appears. The body simply has little strength to withstand such a threat.

Optimal conditions for bacteria

In some cases, we ourselves contribute to the onset of caries, and here's why:

• improper oral care;
• brushing teeth in a hurry;
• we consume more carbohydrate foods (sweet, starchy foods);
• lack of fresh vegetables and fruits;
• consumption of small amounts of vitamins.

In addition, a predisposition to caries occurs in the presence of diseases of the digestive system. If in childhood a person has had tuberculosis or rickets, then the consequence of this is a violation of the formation of teeth, which can also be the cause of caries.

All these factors lead over time to the formation of plaque, which is a favorable environment for the reproduction and development of pathogenic bacteria. It comes to the point that the surface of the tooth enamel becomes thinner, which makes it fragile.

To avoid many unpleasant consequences, it is necessary to reduce the risk of pathology by reducing or completely eliminating the influence of harmful factors.

Some people may wonder what vitamin causes tooth decay? But, as mentioned above, the appearance of pathology is not due to the content of any substances, but rather due to their lack. In particular, this applies to vitamin D, without which calcium cannot be absorbed by the body.

Additional factors

But, in addition to the above, there are a number of additional factors that you should also be aware of:

• Crowded teeth.
• Small salivation.
• The quality of the saliva fluid.
• Features of nutrition.

In some people, it is a feature of the oral cavity. In this case, they are located too close to each other. Because of this, food particles remain in the tight interdental space, which are very difficult to remove.

Saliva plays important role, because it is thanks to her that the tooth enamel is cleaned. Normally, 1.5-2 liters of useful fluid are produced for the whole day. This amount is enough to neutralize the acid that bacteria create. Therefore, if someone's salivation is minimal, the risk of caries increases.

In ensuring the protection of teeth, it is important not only a certain amount of saliva, but also its composition. Normally, it must have an alkaline environment in order to neutralize acid, which is dangerous for enamel. If saliva is chemically neutral, then this will not help to reliably clean your teeth.

If you keep the tooth enamel in a healthy state, then the question of why caries appears will not arise. And this completely depends on the person's diet. If it contains a large amount of fructose, glucose, sucrose, starch, lactose, then a frequent visit to the dentist is guaranteed. And if, in addition, you do not monitor the oral cavity (exclude rinsing, regular cleaning, etc.), then the risk increases significantly.

Unpleasant consequences

Those patients who, for whatever reason, ignore the treatment of caries at the initial stage, risk serious complications. The resulting pathology, having begun to destroy the dental tissue, will not stop by itself. If nothing is done, the patient will face unpleasant consequences:

• Pulpitis. This disease develops as a result of damage to the pulp (tooth nerve). In this case, the patient experiences severe pain. If the disease continues to develop, the nerve tissue will eventually die off and the tooth will no longer receive nutrition.
• Periodontitis. This pathology is characterized by damage to periodontal tissues. The inflammation affects the internal canals of the tooth and nearby tissues. An accumulation of purulent discharge near the root indicates a periodontal abscess. Therefore, you need not only to know what causes caries, it is much more important to prevent its appearance.
• Cyst. Decaying dental tissue leads to the formation of granulation of the tooth and cavity, which fills with pus. Before treatment, the doctor takes a puncture and then removes the cyst.
• Flux. From time to time, patients who have swollen cheeks come to the dentist. This is a clear sign of flux - this is the name of the inflammation of the tissue (periosteum) that covers the tooth. It exfoliates, and the forming cavity is filled with pus. With this disease, patients need to urgently undergo treatment. Everything is done as follows: first, the dentist makes a small incision in order to release all the pus and clean the cavity. After that, the patient needs to take antibiotics for a certain time.

Unfortunately, not all people understand the severity of tooth decay and visit the dentist only as a last resort when there is severe pain. However, this is a sure sign that the disease has passed into a severe stage with subsequent serious complications.

Preventive measures

In order not to suffer over the problem, due to which caries appears, its appearance should be nipped in the bud. There are simple preventive measures for this:

• Correct teeth cleaning.
• Rinse aid application.
• Compensation for the lack of fluoride.
• Compliance with the temperature regime of food.
• Regular inspection.

For the preservation of teeth, they should be brushed in the morning and in the evening. And this should take two minutes, no less! At the same time, it is important to clean all gaps where microorganisms can accumulate. This will significantly increase the efficiency of hygiene.

It is better to rinse your mouth after each meal, and finish the procedure with mouthwash in the morning and evening. In their composition, they contain essential oils that destroy pathogenic bacteria (99.9%), which will not allow caries to appear quickly.

Fluoride is an important trace mineral that increases the strength of your teeth. It is found in drinking water, but in some regions there is very little of it. You can replenish the supply of fluoride by fluoridating the water, but it is much better to use special rinses where it is contained.

You should not expose your teeth to sudden changes in temperature, because as a result, microcracks are formed, where bacteria rush. Therefore, it is better to refrain from strongly hot, cold or contrasting foods.

The dentist should be consulted not only for the treatment of the disease, it is necessary to visit him regularly for the purpose of examination. This will allow timely detection of lesions and keep the teeth in place.

Preventive measures are aimed at maintaining healthy teeth. Who wants to suffer from unbearable pain ?! As for visits to the dentist, it is better to visit him once every 6 months or, in extreme cases, limit yourself to an annual visit. Then the sore question of why caries appears, you simply will not worry.

There is a great variety of dental diseases, but caries is considered one of the most widespread and widespread. Translated from Latin, this word means "decay".

Dental caries - what is it?

Caries is a disease characterized by the gradual destruction of dental tissue (enamel or dentin). Changes in the microflora and the spread of infection in the oral cavity lead to the appearance of "holes in the teeth". This disease is equally dangerous for both adults and children.

Classification

Experts identify the following types of caries:

Uncomplicated forms of the disease:

• surface;
• average;
• deep.

Complicated forms of the disease:

• pulpitis;
• periodontitis.

In addition, there is bottle and cervical caries resulting from demineralization and softening of tooth tissues.

Following another classification, it can be primary or secondary. In the latter case, it appears already on previously filled teeth.

Video about the occurrence of caries

Several reasons can lead to the formation of a carious cavity:

• unbalanced diet (excessive consumption of food rich in carbohydrates, lack of vitamins and microelements);
• inadequate oral hygiene (untimely plaque removal);
• special structure of the tooth surface (accumulation of plaque in fissures and spaces between teeth);
• insufficient salivation;
• genetic predisposition.

Symptoms

The pathogenesis or the onset, the onset of caries takes place in several stages. At the initial stage or stage of the "spot", a whitish or darkish speck forms on the enamel.

At the stage of middle caries, dentin (mineralized tooth tissue) begins to undergo destruction, and a carious cavity is formed.

And, finally, at the stage of deep caries, the cavity increases in size and the impact on it causes severe pain.

To get a better idea of ​​what the signs of caries look like, you need to view the photo. Perhaps such a measure will help you track the disease at an early stage.

Treatment

The appropriate method of caries treatment is chosen by the dentist only after the diagnosis of teeth and oral cavity, and it depends on the degree of development of the disease.

The objective of the treatment is to remove destroyed dentine or enamel, restore tooth function by means of a variety of filling materials (polymers, cements, metals).

But how to get rid of acute caries without unnecessary pain? In this case, during treatment, infiltration and conduction anesthesia is used, for example, a lidocaine solution is injected.

Prevention

The main recommendations of dentists for the prevention of carious diseases are that you should eat right, pay attention to oral hygiene and come for a preventive examination in dentistry every six months. An additional measure against caries can be professional dental cleaning.

Proper dental care and timely treatment will help you avoid the development of complications such as pulpitis, periodontitis, granuloma, etc.

At the dental portal, you have the opportunity to make an appointment with qualified specialists who will carry out a complete diagnosis of teeth and identify the main problems.