Causes and treatment of dental caries

Dental caries is one of the most common oral diseases in both children and adults. According to 2015 data, the prevalence of caries in adults aged 35 years and older is between 95% and 100%.

Furthermore, according to the study La salud bucodental en España 2020, the number of caries is not expected to decrease, but will remain at the current figure of about 95% of the Spanish adult population affected.

Why is the problem so widespread? One possible explanation is that cavities are usually asymptomatic in the initial stage, that is, they do not initially cause pain or inflammation or other noticeable symptoms, so the person does not usually realize that he or she has cavities. This is why regular check-ups are important, since the dentist does detect caries at an early stage, when they are easier to treat, and can advise us on how to prevent them.

What is dental caries?

The caries is an oral disease of bacterial origin. That is, it is a form of infection that damages the surface of the tooth enamel, and goes piercing it until it reaches the innermost areas of the tooth.

In this graph we can see the main phases of dental caries:

Main symptoms of caries

The symptoms of caries vary according to its size, stage and location. For example, as we have mentioned, in the initial stage there are usually no symptoms, it may only be perceptible to the naked eye as a small black dot.

As it progresses, we may notice a sudden pain in the teeth or molars without apparent cause or when biting. It is a tooth sensitivity that is also common to appear in cold weather and when eating sweets.

In the more advanced stages, the hole will become larger and more visible, depending on the area in which it is located, and may cause nerve involvement. If this were the case the pain can be extremely intense and spontaneous, with no need for external stimuli to provoke it. In this situation it is easy for dental phlegmons to occur.

Factors influencing dental caries

Caries is a multifactorial disease, that is, it is caused by a combination of several factors, such as bacteria present in the mouth, the consumption of certain foods or beverages rich in sugars or carbohydrates, and incomplete or insufficient oral hygiene.

In addition, other factors such as saliva pH, genetic predisposition or some medications that alter the quality and quantity of saliva in the mouth can also influence the more or less frequent occurrence of caries.

Prevention and treatment of caries

The treatment of caries will depend on how advanced it is:

• In an initial stage, the cavity may be treated with a filling. The dentist removes the damaged part of the enamel and places a material to cover it. If the cavity is small in an incipient stage that only affects the enamel, the filling is not done. If the enamel of the damaged area is cared for with proper hygiene and an extra supply of fluoride is applied, this enamel is repaired by means of physiological remineralization.
• If the caries has advanced and has affected the dental pulp, endodontics, i.e., devitalization of the nerve, may be necessary.
• If the infection has advanced and it is not possible to save the tooth, extraction should be performed and a dental implant may be considered.

Therefore, as we have mentioned, it is very important to check our oral health at least once a year, to detect these possible problems at an early stage .

But can also carry out some actions to prevent the appearance of caries, especially if we have a tendency to suffer from it:

• At Ahoa Clinic we apply a prevention plan in patients with a high caries risk. The first step is to make a correct diagnosis of the predisposing factors. To do this, we analyze the quality and quantity of saliva and an analysis of the concentration of caries-causing bacteria strains. In this way we establish the risk of suffering the disease, that is, caries.
• Follow a correct oral hygiene routine, including brushing, mouthwash and flossing, especially before going to bed.
• Avoid consumption of foods and beverages with a high sugar or carbohydrate content. Especially energy drinks, since in addition to their sugar content, their acidity causes an accelerated wear of the enamel.
• Brush our teeth every time we eat, even when we snack between meals.

In addition, at Ahoa we provide personalized advice to each patient, such as the most suitable toothpaste or mouthwash, since each person has some own characteristics that must be taken into account.

Call us and ask for a thorough revision of your teeth. We already know, as Don Quixote said to Sancho, that a mouth without molars is like millstone without a millstone, and a tooth is much more valuable than a diamond!