Dental Caries

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What are dental caries? Dental caries are also called cavities. It is a disease that can be spread from one person to another through bacteria. This bacteria makes acid that decays (breaks down) areas of tooth enamel. Enamel covers the outside of a tooth. Acid is produced when the bacteria in tooth plaque (sticky film) mix with certain types of carbohydrate you eat. Dental caries can be prevented and usually grow slowly. The growth of dental caries can be slowed down, stopped, or treated. Dental caries can also come back after being treated. Dental caries can reach deeper parts of your tooth and cause other problems if they are not treated. Very bad tooth decay can lead to pain, abscess (infection), and loss of your tooth.

What may increase my risk of dental caries?

• Not brushing or flossing your teeth every day or cleaning your teeth well enough to remove plaque.
  
  
• Eating certain carbohydrates that increase your risk of dental caries often. Some of these carbohydrates include fruit drinks, regular soda, desserts, hard candy, and cookies.
  
  
• Not getting enough fluouride. Fluoride is a substance that has been found to protect teeth against dental caries. It is found in drinking water, toothpaste, mouth rinses, and most foods. Foods such as bone meal, fish meal, and gelatin have large amounts of fluoride.
  
  
• Not having enough saliva in your mouth. This can be caused by certain diseases or radiation therapy of the head and neck. Certain medicines can also cause your levels of saliva to decrease. Saliva helps clear food bits from your teeth and decrease the bacteria in your mouth that cause decay.
  
  
• Family history of dental caries.
  
  
• Eating and drinking acidic foods often. Acidic foods and drinks include lemons, regular and diet soda, sports drinks, and fruit juice.
  
  
• Gastric reflux and eating disorders. Gastric reflux is a condition in which stomach acid and food in the stomach reflux (back up) into the esophagus. An eating disorder is a condition in which a person makes themself throw up. Both of these conditions cause stomach acid to come in contact with teeth, which may cause dental caries.

What are signs and symptoms of dental caries? You probably will not have any signs and symptoms if your dental caries have just started to form. When dental caries reach deeper parts of your tooth, you may start to feel pain. Hot or cold foods may also cause pain or make it worse. The pain may also get worse when you bite or chew.

How are dental caries diagnosed? Your dentist will look at your teeth to check for signs of dental caries. Your dentist may use a dental probe (metal tool) to clean away plaque. This will allow your dentist to look at your teeth more closely. Some dentists check for cavities by touching parts of your teeth with the end of the probe. Your dentist may also use x-rays to find dental caries. New methods for finding dental caries may also be used. Ask your caregiver about other ways to find dental caries.

How are dental caries treated? The treatment you will receive depends on the stage of your dental caries. If your dental caries are found early, your dentist will try to control and treat the decay. Your dentist will also encourage you to make lifestyle changes that will prevent further decay. The following may used to treat your dental caries:

• Fluoride: Dentists can give you fluoride treatments during dental visits or you may use products with fluoride at home. Fluoride can be found in the form of a varnish, mouth rinse, and gel. You may buy fluoride with or without a dentist's order at a pharmacy. Your dentist will tell you what kind of fluoride to buy and how to use it.
  
  
• Filling: Your caregiver may remove the decayed portion of your tooth and place a filling in the tooth. The filling may help to protect your tooth from further decay.

How can I help prevent dental caries?

• Brush your teeth two times a day after meals with fluoride toothpaste.
  
  
• Rinse your mouth after meals and snacks with water if you cannot brush.
  
  
• Chew sugarless gum that contains xylitol and sorbitol (sugar substitutes) after meals and snacks for 15 to 20 minutes. Read the label to see if the gum contains xylitol or sorbitol.
  
  
• Use dental floss to clean between your teeth at least once a day.
  
  
• See your dentist regularly for dental cleanings and oral exams. Ask your dentist how often you should see him for dental cleanings and exams.
  
  
• Ask your caregiver about using fluoride and sealants (a plastic coat that is placed over teeth). These may be used to protect your teeth from decay.

What diet changes can I make to help prevent dental caries? Diet changes you can make to help decrease your risk of getting dental caries. Some of these include the following:

• Eat a variety of healthy foods from all the food groups every day. Include whole grain bread, cereal, rice and pasta. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, including dark green and orange vegetables and legumes (dry beans). Include dairy products such as low-fat milk, yogurt and cheese. Choose protein sources such as lean meat and poultry (chicken), fish, beans, eggs and nuts. Ask your caregiver how many servings of fats, oils, and sweets you may have each day.
  
  
• Avoid having snacks often during the day. When you do snack, eat foods that do not increase your risk of dental caries. These foods include high-fiber foods and protein foods. Examples of these foods include vegetables, nuts, popcorn, cheese, and peanut butter.
  
  
• Certain types of carbohydrates increase your risk of getting dental caries if you eat them alone. These include fruit drinks, regular soda, desserts, hard candy, crackers, cookies, chips, and pretzels. When you do eat these foods, eat them with meals. You can also eat them together with a high-fiber or protein food to lower your risk of getting dental caries. For example, you can eat pretzels or crackers with cheese.
  
  
• Avoid sipping on sweet drinks and sodas for long periods of time. Avoid keeping hard candy and breath mints in your mouth for long periods of time.

What can happen if my dental caries are not treated? If your dental caries are not treated, the decay will reach deeper parts of your tooth and cause other problems. Very bad tooth decay can lead to pain, abscess (infection), and loss of your tooth. Ask your caregiver for more information about tooth abscess.

When should I call my caregiver? Call your caregiver if:

• You have a fever (increased body temperature).
  
  
• Your tooth pain gets worse.

When should I seek immediate care? Seek immediate help or call 911 if:

• Your face, jaw, cheek, eye, or neck begins to swell.
  
  

Where can I get more information?

• American Dental Association
  211 East Chicago Avenue
  Chicago, IL 60611
  Phone: 1-800-621-8099
  Web Address: http://www.ada.org
  

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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