dental caries

Tooth decay, also known as caries (lit. 'rottenness', from Latin), is the breakdown of teeth due to acids produced by bacteria. The resulting dental cavities may be many different colors, from yellow to black. Symptoms may include pain and difficulty eating. Complications may include periodontal disease (i.e., inflammation of the tissue around the tooth), tooth loss, infection, or dental abscess formation. Tooth regeneration is a field of ongoing stem cell-based study that aims to find methods to reverse the effects of decay; current treatments are limited to symptom management.

The cause of cavities is acid from bacteria dissolving the hard tissues of the teeth (enamel, dentin, and cementum). The acid is produced by the bacteria when they break down food debris or sugar on the tooth surface. Simple sugars in food are these bacteria's primary energy source, and thus a diet high in simple sugar is a risk factor. If tooth demineralization is greater than tooth remineralization from sources such as saliva, caries results. Risk factors include conditions that result in less saliva, such as diabetes mellitus, Sjögren syndrome, and some medications, including psychostimulants, antihistamines, and antidepressants. Dental caries is also associated with poverty, poor oral hygiene, and receding gums, resulting in gingival recession (i.e., exposure of the roots of the teeth).