Dental Caries

Dental caries is quite possibly the oldest and most common disease that humans still suffer from, dating back as far as 5,000 BC when ancient people believed they had “tooth worms.” It wasn’t called “dental caries” – from the Latin “caries” or “decay” – until 1634. You’ve probably gotten it yourself, though your dentist referred to it by its modern terminology: dental cavities.

Most people understand that brushing and flossing improperly, eating and drinking sugary food products, and snacking too much are the main causes of cavities. However, most do not realize that cavities are actually a chronic infection caused by bacteria (“streptococcus mutans”). When the bacteria is allowed to flourish without the intervention of a tooth brush, mouthwash, or floss, it adheres to the sugars on your teeth and metabolizes them into acid.

This acid eats away at the minerals of your teeth. Over time, this leads to the enamel developing holes or lesions known as cavities, which make further decay possible. Without treatment, the holes grow, leading to more decay and eventual tooth loss.

Importantly, dental caries is not caused by “sugar” in the dietary sense but “sugar” in the chemical sense. All food that contains a fermentable carbohydrate, including not only glucose but also sucrose, fructose, and maltose, can become a breeding ground for the bacteria that causes cavities. Insufficient contact with the fluoride in your toothpaste, mouthwash, and drinking water is a primary factor, along with dietary and hygiene habits, in allowing dental caries to persist even in highly developed countries.