90 percent of Poles have it. Caries, if left untreated, is not only a threat to teeth. It can cause many systemic diseases. What should we know about caries? The stories are told by dentists: Tomasz Kupryś, Urszula Leończak and Bartosz Leończak, as well as the hygienist Joanna Orlińska.
- Caries is a bacterial disease of the teeth that destroys their hard tissues. Untreated, it can cause many systemic diseases. Although its development can be effectively prevented, it is a serious problem with a social dimension – over 90 percent of Poles struggle with it
- Caries begins with tooth decalcification. In the first phase, the hard tissues of the tooth, enamel and dentin are damaged. If the patient does not go to the doctor quickly, the caries begins to penetrate deeper – into the pulp and destroys the structure of the entire tooth
- The development of caries is caused by organic acids produced by bacteria present in the oral cavity, which feed mainly on sugars supplied to the body with food
- What carbohydrates are particularly harmful to the teeth? Refined, added to food products (sweets, drinks, yoghurts), but also those present in, for example, fruit
- A small dose of fructose, sucrose or glucose is enough for the pH level in the mouth to drop to 5,0 (or less), which causes the demineralization of the enamel
How to recognize that we have caries? – In the first phase, a white spot appears in the tooth enamel. Then it darkens and becomes rough. An untreated lesion softens the dentin. Then a cavity is formed that is susceptible to external factors such as heat, cold, sour or sweet drinks or food. Further progression of caries in dentin may cause inflammation of the pulp and the need for endodontic treatment of the tooth, the drug tells us. dent. Bartosz Leończak from the Warsaw Dental Center clinic.
Doctor Urszula Leończak admits that thanks to the root canal treatment, the patient has a chance to keep his tooth. – It consists in removing dead or inflamed tissues from the canals, disinfecting the entire canal system and filling them tightly with a special material. Due to the small structures and complicated anatomy of the tooth, modern root canal treatment cannot be performed without magnification, i.e. a microscope. Thanks to its use, the doctor has better control over the course of the procedure and achieves one hundred percent satisfactory results for the patient.
Modern endodontics is complemented by machine tools and cone beam tomography. The tools make treatment faster and safer, and the CT scans are used for pre-treatment diagnostics, the drug says. dent. Urszula Leończak.
Caries can be caused not only by bacteria or carbohydrates – there are many other factors that increase the risk of its occurrence. One of them is xerostomia, i.e. reduced salivation. Saliva not only digests food, but also provides the best protection for teeth, maintaining the correct pH level in the mouth.
– It is also worth remembering that among people exposed to the development of caries, there are those who take drugs on a permanent basis, especially antidepressants, antihistamines, anxiolytics and painkillers – adds the drug. dent. Tomasz Kupryś. – Caries also develops syrups, lozenges containing sugar and antibiotic treatments that destroy the natural bacterial flora.
Joanna Orlińska, a hygienist from Warsaw Dental Center, warns against eating the so-called cariogenic and cariogenic products. – They contain carbohydrates that are susceptible to fermentation, have a sticky consistency that easily adheres to the tooth. These include, for example, chips, donuts, cheese and bars. You should avoid snacking between meals, because frequent consumption of foods rich in organic acids, even in small amounts, badly affects our teeth. It is also worth remembering about hydrating the body. – I recommend consuming about 2/3 liters of water a day and eliminating fruit juices or sweetened tea – adds Joanna Orlińska. – We should also remember about proper hygiene (brushing teeth at least twice a day) and about prophylaxis – a dental check-up in the office, at least every six months.