What is dental decay?

Dental decay or dental caries as it is referred to is a disease affecting the teeth wherein they are destroyed by softening by microorganisms or germs that exist on and around the teeth. This destruction of the tooth structure occurs in the presence of the stagnated food particles.

Why do teeth get decayed?

Dental decay is the most prevalent decease affecting humanity. Teeth get decayed due to a combination of causes that include bad oral hygiene, stagnation of food on or around the teeth, presence of plaque on the tooth structure and the presence of caries causing microorganisms.

Food particles and microorganisms tend to stagnate in the deep pits and fissures found on the grinding surface of the teeth thereby predisposing to dental decay. In addition plaque and tartar may contribute to retention of particles and microbes close to the tooth structure.

Are sweet foods bad for the teeth?

Sticky and sweet foodstuff promote plaque and growth of caries causing microorganisms. This predisposes to dental caries.

How to prevent tooth decay?

Prevention is always better than cure. The following factors help in prevention of caries.

1. Maintenance of good oral hygiene by regular brushing and use of interdental aids.

2. Diet is a very important consideration in dental decay. Sticky food and refined sugars are important factors predisposing to caries. Thus such foodstuff should be avoided. Children are advised to brush immediately after they consume such foodstuff.

3. The use of fluoridated toothpaste markedly reduces the occurrence of dental decay. The dentist will advice you on the use of fluoridated toothpastes.

4. In some children the grinding surface of the teeth tend to have very deep pits and grooves which predispose to stagnation of food and microbes. For such teeth the dentist may use appropriate sealants to reduce their depth. They are called pit and fissure sealants.

5. Regular check up by the dentist to arrest caries that have just begun and for professional fluoride application.

What is nursing bottle caries?

This is a rampant form of dental caries involving several teeth in the mouth and affects those teeth which are generally considered resistant to dental decay.

Nursing bottle caries or rampant caries is usually associated with prolonged bottle feeding of sugar containing drinks such as milk and juices. They may occur due to bottle-feeding at bedtime or during sleep and lack of cleansing of the teeth thereafter.

Nursing caries can also occur due to prolonged on demand breast feeding at night due to lactose sugar present in the milk.

This form of dental decay affects many teeth and may be seen as marked discoloration of the teeth. In later stages the teeth may fracture. The child often experiences pain on brushing and eating cold or hot food substances.

What are pit and fissure sealants?

In some children the grinding surface of the teeth tend to have very deep pits and grooves which predispose to stagnation of food and microbes. For such teeth the dentist may use appropriate sealants to reduce their depth. These are called pit and fissure sealants.

Is fluoride application required?

In addition to using fluoride toothpastes, some other form of fluoride supplement may also be required to protect your child's teeth.As this may differ from case to case,it is advisable to consult your dentist for more information.