Dental caries is the scientific term that dentists’ use for cavities or tooth decay. Dental caries is formed by specific types of bacteria found in your mouth. They form an acid that harms your tooth’s enamel and the layer under your tooth’s enamel called the dentin. There are a lot of different types of bacteria that live in the human mouth. These bacteria form a sticky film on your teeth called plaque.

Plaque also contains different natural substances, bits of food, and saliva. There are certain places in the mouth where plaque can easily form.

This includes:

-Close to your gum line

-Around bridgework or dental fillings

-Between your teeth

Inside grooves, pits, or cracks in your back teeth

When we eat, bacteria turn carbohydrates (starches) and sugar into acids. This acid then breaks down the minerals within your tooth’s hard enamel that covers your tooth’s crown.

The tooth enamel is the part of the tooth that you can see. The tooth enamel then starts to develop pits or erodes. At first, when they form, they will be too small to see but over time they will become larger.

The acid can also leak through pores in your enamel. This is how your teeth begin to decay in the softer dentin layers. They start to decay in the main body of your tooth.

When the enamel and dentin breakdown, a cavity is then created in your tooth. If you do not remove the decay the bacteria will continue to spread and produce more acid. When this happens the acid will eventually start to dissolve the inner layer of your tooth.

The inner layer of your tooth contains the sensitive nerve fibers and soft pulp.

Diagnosis

At every dental appointment, your dentist will ensure to check for any caries. Your dentist will use a tool called an explorer to make sure that you do not have any damage areas or any pits. While your dentist does this he/she will probe your teeth with the tool. The main problem with these types of methods is usually the fact that dentists do not often catch these cavities when they just start to form.

Sometimes when too much pressure is used, the explorer tool can actually hurt your tooth’s enamel. When this happens, it can actually allow the cavity-causing bacteria to infest the perfectly healthy tooth.

Your dentist will have you take x-rays if he/she suspects a problem and on a set schedule. X-rays can show your dentist where newly forming decay is starting, it works especially well when showing them between your teeth.

Expected duration

When caries is caught as they just start to form they can be removed completely. White spots on your teeth can indicate newly forming caries that has not yet worn through your tooth enamel.

Dentists can stop caries when they just start to form, yet, they can only do this if the acid damage has stopped. When there is no more acid damage happening on your tooth, it can start to heal itself, on its own.

Caries cannot easily be stopped if it has destroyed your tooth enamel. A lot of caries will continue to worsen and become deeper. It does not take long before your tooth has been destroyed due to decay.

Prevention

By reducing the amount of bacteria and plaque in your mouth, you can reduce your chances of getting cavities. The best way to do this is by flossing and brushing your teeth every day. Using antibacterial mouthwash will assist to reduce the bacteria in your mouth, fewer bacteria, fewer chances of getting cavities.