Tooth decay is undoubtedly a disease of civilization. Every child knows that improper nutrition with products containing a large amount of simple sugars and insufficient or no oral hygiene is the shortest way to tooth decay.
The effects of long-term neglect in the field of oral health are known to many patients of dental offices – they can be summarized in two words: pain and cost.
A diet rich in simple carbohydrates and sucrose, which we sweeten with tea or coffee, as well as the lack of time or willingness for proper oral hygiene are the causes of bone structure defects in the teeth and the development of caries. However, sugar alone and avoiding brushing your teeth are not enough to prevent tooth decay. In order for it to become a fact, known bacteria must enter the scene.
Oral bacteria
The oral cavity is a natural habitat for all kinds of bacteria. Their occurrence here is perfectly normal and no one should be surprised by their presence. Bacteria, like any living organism, must eat to live. In the mouth, microbes can choose from a wide menu, and we are the waiters in this restaurant. What we eat must, of course, pass through the oral cavity, where the teeth will grind the food properly and the saliva and enzymes contained in it will initially prepare bites of food for digestion. The ingredients contained in the dietary mass may, to a greater or lesser extent, satisfy the nutritional needs of bacteria living in the oral cavity.
As we already know, tooth decay most often attacks when we consume too much sugar. Certain oral bacteria, such as streptococcus (Streptococcus), use simple sugars to live. Streptococcus was found to be most associated with the appearance and development of caries Streptococcus mutans. Its unfavorable effect is caused by the release of lactic acid, which is a product of sucrose decomposition. Streptococcus, by feeding on the sugar we supply it ourselves, instead produces large amounts of lactic acid, which lowers the pH in the oral cavity and causes leaching of calcium and phosphorus ions from the enamel. The enamel is weakened and after some time a cavity is formed which will grow and penetrate deep into the tooth tissue (dentin). This is where the dentist should step in and heal the cavity. The moment the caries reaches the innervated and vascularized tooth tissue (pulp), toothache appears. At this point, root canal treatment is necessary, which is very painful and expensive, and results in tooth “poisoning” (devitalization).
Bacteria S. mutants they are not the only culprits of tooth decay. Bacteria of the genus are also mentioned Lactobacilluswhich, however, are never associated with the initiation of carious lesions, but are found in places of deep caries. In general, cariogenic bacteria cause a lowering of the oral pH which leads to the dissolution of the enamel and the degradation of the tooth tissue.
Caries tendency
Not all bacteria S. mutans i Lactobacillus contribute equally to the formation of caries. It is known that there are strains of these microorganisms that are more or less “aggressive”. It can even be concluded that tooth decay, or rather a tendency to it, may be contagious. For example, if parents have more cariogenic strains of bacteria in their mouths, their children will be colonized with them and will also be more exposed to this disease. The genetic predisposition to caries is also important. Human saliva has the ability to neutralize a low acidic pH, but this property varies individually, meaning that some people will be better protected and others less. Also, the structure of the teeth themselves, their mineral composition, and the resistance of enamel are not the same in all people. Diet is also important, especially during early childhood. Providing the body with appropriate doses of calcium and phosphorus may reduce the risk of carious lesions in later years.
Caries prophylaxis
Appropriate prophylaxis is necessary to minimize the development of tooth decay. The key is to properly brush your teeth and remove plaque deposits, which is formed just a few hours after brushing your teeth. This plate is a gathering point for bacteria, streptococci and other bacteria emerge from it. Brushing your teeth reduces the amount of bacteria in your mouth. Avoiding brushing your teeth leads to mineralization of the plaque and the formation of tartar. The brush is not able to reach all the nooks and crannies, so it is necessary to floss the interdental gaps. Also, the grooves present on the chewing surfaces of premolars and molars are not cleaned well enough and should be filled with lacquer to prevent bacteria from settling there. Fluoridation of the teeth gives very good protection. Fluoride penetrates the enamel and creates chemical compounds that are less susceptible to the action of lactic acid, which reduces the risk of caries. However, the basis is regular visits to the dentist who monitors and fills the emerging cavities on an ongoing basis.
Caries is a problem that affects all people, but it depends on us to what extent it will damage our teeth. Bacteria are the main culprits of caries, but let’s face it, the first culprits are ourselves. Only we decide what we eat and how we care for the hygiene of our teeth. Remember that untreated caries will quickly destroy the teeth and bacteria that colonize profusely carious cavities after entering the bloodstream can damage distant internal organs. Probably some cases of heart attacks are caused by inflammation that develops in the coronary vessels as a result of the appearance of bacteria in the mouth of patients with deep carious lesions there.
Dental treatment is not cheap, so prevention is better than cure.
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