Dental caries: causes, stages of development and risk factors. What does caries look like? What is dental caries?

Almost every person suffers from dental disease from time to time. The most common dental disease is caries. It is a process of destruction of hard tooth tissues. First, caries strikes tooth enamel and if left untreated, the process begins to affect the deeper layers of the tooth and can lead to its complete destruction. If the disease starts, a hole appears in the tooth enamel; it gradually increases, allowing pathogenic bacteria access inside the tooth. This leads to the fact that other diseases join caries, aggravating the situation. What are the causes of caries and is it possible to protect yourself from it?

This disease does not occur on its own. It is caused by special cariogenic bacteria Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis and actinomycetes living in the oral cavity. But why do some people rarely experience caries, while others are forced to visit the dentist every year, or even more often? The fact is that each organism has different resistance to these microorganisms. It has been noted that people with weak immunity more susceptible to cariogenic bacteria.

Attention! Bacteria live and multiply in dental plaque. Brushing your teeth can remove plaque, but using a toothbrush can only remove soft deposits. Within a few days, plaque turns into hard tartar, which cannot be removed on your own. To get rid of it, you need to see a doctor.

Using special instruments, the doctor will break up and remove hard deposits. If you do not get rid of tartar in time, cariogenic bacteria will continuously attack the tooth, and this will sooner or later lead to caries.

There are many reasons for the occurrence of caries, but we encounter some every day: improper oral care, poor water quality, lack of vitamins and minerals in the body - it is necessary to pay attention to these factors, because. we can control them.

Bacteria require certain conditions to actively reproduce. These conditions are:

• poor oral care;
• poor cleaning;
• the predominance in the diet of foods rich in carbohydrates (flour, sweets), as well as a lack fresh vegetables and fruits;
• low-quality drinking water with low calcium, fluorine, phosphorus content;
• lack of vitamins;
• decreased immunity;
• diseases of the digestive system;
• violation of the formation of teeth, which can be caused by transferred to childhood diseases (tuberculosis, rickets).

Under the influence of these factors, plaque begins to accumulate on the teeth - a favorable environment for bacteria. The enamel becomes thinner, becomes brittle and is affected by caries. To avoid this, it is necessary to eliminate or reduce the influence of harmful factors.

Why does tooth decay still occur?

As mentioned above, the main causes of the disease are cariogenic bacteria that actively multiply in food debris and dental plaque. But, in addition to this, there are several additional factors that increase the risk of caries. What does this include?

Diagnosis of caries

If the carious process has already developed, it becomes visible to the naked eye, but at the initial stage it is impossible to independently determine the presence of the disease. This can only be done by a dentist using special equipment. Three main types of examination are used: vital staining of tooth enamel, ultraviolet irradiation, and x-rays.

Stages of the disease

Like any disease, caries develops gradually and has several stages. Dentists distinguish three stages of disease development.

• Early caries. At this stage, the tooth retains its integrity, but a small white spot appears on its surface. Gradually, the enamel becomes pigmented, acquiring a grayish tint, and its surface becomes rough.
• Average caries. At this stage, the carious process affects not only the enamel, but also the next layer of the tooth - dentin, as a result of which a cavity appears in it, which gradually increases in size.
• Deep caries. If the patient does not see a doctor, the carious process continues its destructive effect and affects the deep layers of the tooth. At this stage, others may join the main disease.

This figure shows caries in three stages: early, middle and deep caries.

Each person develops caries at a different rate - some quickly, some slowly. Usually in adults the disease is chronic and sluggish. In children, this process occurs much faster, since baby teeth are not as strong as permanent teeth. The rapid course of the disease is called acute caries.

Patients who neglect their dental health and do not treat tooth decay are at risk of complications. Untreated caries destroys hard tissues teeth and extends beyond them. What complications may arise?

Pulpitis

Inside the tooth is located nervously vascular bundle– pulp. When the inflammatory process affects it, pulpitis develops. The disease is characterized severe pain. If measures are not taken, the pulp tissues die and the tooth is deprived of its source of nutrition.

Periodontitis

Periodontitis is inflammation of the periodontium. Periodontal tissue is the tissue located around the tooth. Inflammatory process spreads to the canals located inside the tooth and covers nearby tissues. If pus accumulates in the root area, this indicates the development of a periodontal abscess.

Tooth cyst

Dental tissues are destroyed, leading to the growth of granulations and the formation of a cavity that is filled with pus. To treat a cyst, the dentist makes a puncture and removes the formation.

Flux

Patients often come to the dentist with a swollen cheek. This condition indicates the development of gumboil. Flux occurs when the periosteum, the tissue covering the bone, becomes inflamed. The periosteum peels off, and the resulting cavity is filled with pus. In this case, the patient needs urgent treatment. The doctor makes a small incision, drains the pus, cleans the cavity, and then prescribes the patient a course of antibiotics. If the tooth can still be saved, treatment of pulpitis and periodontitis will be required. In this case, the flux will not develop again.

Many people believe that caries is not a serious dental disease and turn to the dentist after the appearance of pain. But the pain indicates that caries has already passed into severe stage and may appear dangerous consequences in the form of pulpitis, periodontitis, cysts or gumboil.

Prevention of caries

In order not to suffer from caries and its consequences, you need to try to prevent the disease. Methods for preventing caries:

• Regular teeth cleaning. To keep your teeth healthy, you need to brush them twice a day - in the morning, after waking up, and in the evening, before going to bed. The procedure should take at least two minutes and not be limited to cleaning the surface of the teeth. It is also necessary to clean the interdental, peri-gingival spaces and tongue, since microbes also accumulate there. To make cleaning as effective as possible, you need to choose the right toothpaste and a brush.
• Mouth rinse. In addition to brushing your teeth regularly, dentists recommend rinsing your mouth with water after every meal. This helps to wash away acids left by acid-containing foods from the surface of the teeth, as well as get rid of food particles stuck in the spaces between teeth. In the morning and evening after brushing your teeth, you need to use special mouth rinses. They freshen breath, slow down the process of plaque formation, and also strengthen the enamel, saturating it with minerals.
• Replenishment of fluoride deficiency.

  Attention! Fluorine is important trace element, affecting the strength of tooth tissue. It is found in drinking water, but not all regions have sufficient amounts of this substance. A lack of fluoride leads to thinning of tooth enamel.

  This problem can be solved by fluoridation drinking water. But the easiest way to care for your mouth is to use rinses that contain fluoride. Another way to compensate for fluoride deficiency is to eat foods rich in this element, such as fish and other seafood.

• Food temperature. Sudden changes temperatures are harmful to tooth enamel, since such exposure leads to the appearance of microcracks, into which microbes then penetrate. To avoid this, do not eat too hot, cold or contrasting foods.
• Regular visits to the dentist. Often, patients consult a doctor only when their teeth begin to hurt. It is not right. To prevent caries, it is recommended to undergo periodic medical examinations at the dentist in order to promptly identify the first signs of the disease. Adults need to visit a doctor at least once every six months, and children every three months, since their teeth decay much faster.

Don't neglect preventive examinations. This will help to detect dental problems in time and avoid possible complications.

Caries is one of the oldest diseases, which was suffered as far back as 3 thousand years BC. The causes and mechanisms of development of this pathology are very complex.

Even a highly professional dentist cannot always detect the onset of caries development at first glance. That is why it is necessary to clearly identify the symptoms of this disease different stages its development.

1. Chalk stain

Main reason of this disease is poor quality of oral hygiene. It is this factor that leads to the accumulation of pathogenic microorganisms that cause the development of caries.

Maintenance healthy image life and balanced diet, inhibit the proliferation of microbes. But, if the immune system suddenly weakens, the rhythm of life is disrupted, bad habits, then microbes begin to actively attack the surface of the teeth, leading to the formation of caries.

At this stage, pathology is very difficult to identify. As a rule, development can be suspected by reduction of gloss on the crown. In this case, the shine does not disappear on the entire surface, but in limited areas.

Over time, they begin to form in this place spots white irregular shape. Such a manifestation signals the beginning of enamel demineralization, which quickly spreads to neighboring teeth.

At the affected area after a certain time enamel becomes thinner. Over time, the stain changes its color to brown. Possible occurrence feeling on edge.

At the first stage of caries, the infected tooth does not react in any way to external stimuli. There are also no signs of pain.

To diagnose early-stage caries, instrumental examination is not used, since the enamel in the area of ​​destruction still remains smooth and the probe slips over it.

For diagnosis, a Methylene blue solution is used, which colors demineralized lesions blue. Before application, the enamel must be thoroughly dried.

Treatment of teeth affected by stage 1 caries involves their remineralization. For this purpose, special complex preparations containing magnesium, potassium, and calcium ions are used.

The remineralization procedure is carried out as follows:

• if pain relief is required, local anesthesia is used;
• the dentist performs professional cleaning of the oral cavity;
• the infected crown is polished and isolated from saliva;
• a remineralizing drug is applied to it.

For getting positive result, it is necessary to carry out a course of procedures, average duration 10 days.

If you find caries at the stain stage, you should not put off visiting the dentist, as after some time this can lead to complete loss of the tooth.

In the next video we will be told how to cope with the first stage of caries:

2. Superficial

The process of caries damage tends to develop. In the absence of proper treatment, a small white spot quickly increases in size, changes its color, affecting the deep layers of the enamel.

This occurs most intensely on the lateral surfaces of the crowns.

The second stage is characterized by the following manifestations:

• change in enamel structure. It becomes rough, uneven, porous;
• change in color of spots from white to brown or black.
• at the spot of the stain you can notice defects: small pinholes, chips;
• appears rare painful reaction to external stimuli. When infected lesions are located in the cervical area, discomfort is observed during mechanical action: brushing teeth, pressing with a finger. The pain is short-term aching in nature;
• white or yellowish plaque accumulates on the gingival zone of the crown;
• Maybe inflammation of the gingival papillae.

At the second stage of caries, the enamel can no longer be restored through remineralization. Treatment requires direct impact on the crown.

The sooner you see a doctor, the less intervention there will be on his part. Often, a visual examination is sufficient for diagnosis.

But when pathological foci are located in a poor visibility area, an X-ray machine is used.

Treatment of second stage caries includes:

• processing of the collapsing surface;
• grinding of porous enamel;
• applying an adhesion promoting agent;
• filling prepared areas.

3. Medium

The second and third stages are very similar. But unlike the superficial, medium caries penetrates deeper, covering dentin.

Symptoms of manifestation are slightly different from the previous stage:

• sharp pain occurs every time when exposed to irritants. It can be caused by touch during cleaning, food, too hot or cold air, or examination with a probe. Painful sensations disappear almost immediately after the removal of the stimulus;
• the affected area increases, covering most of the crown. In some cases, caries spread not across the width, but into the dentin of the tooth. The depth of the lesion is usually small and does not reach the deep layers of dentin;
• the walls of the resulting cavities are solid. At chronic development pathology, it is possible to surround the bottom and walls with dentin.

For a detailed diagnosis of the third stage, instrumental examination and radiographs are used. Based on the results obtained, treatment is prescribed, which is not much different from therapy superficial caries.

Also, First, the infected tissue is removed, and then the areas are filled and restored. The average degree of caries is the penultimate.

But contacting a dentist at this stage is still not the worst option. Since it is still possible to preserve a whole and healthy tooth, which is not always possible last stage.

4. Deep

Pathology at this stage is the most difficult option for treatment. Unfortunately, it is the fourth stage of caries that is diagnosed most often.

Fear of dentists often leads to the spread of the disease to most of the crowns of the dentition, the occurrence of secondary pathologies, and complete loss of teeth.

Caries at the fourth stage of development has the following symptoms:

• When examining the oral cavity, they are found voluminous cavities penetrating deep into dentin, but not affecting the pulp;
• probing of these areas causes sharp, persistent pain along the entire bottom;
• painful sensations can occur both when exposed to external stimuli and at rest. Especially often, pain occurs in evening time. This is explained by the fact that the disease affects the nerve of the tooth, which is not yet inflamed, but is already reacting sharply;
• dark areas turn black;
• at this stage there may be destruction of the crown and subgingival area. However, this phenomenon is not always accompanied by additional symptoms.

Treatment of the last stage of caries begins only after a detailed diagnosis. The doctor determines the area and degree of damage to the tooth tissue, after which the stages of treatment are planned.

Most often it has a standard scheme:

• the patient is anesthetized at the site of treatment;
• carry out aseptic treatment of crowns;
• using a drill, remove damaged tissue;
• form a cavity;
• apply an adhesive solution to the walls of the cavity;
• filling material is applied;
• restore the crown.

In children

Childhood caries during the eruption and development of baby teeth is a fairly common occurrence. Most common cause of this pathology in children is:

• poor quality of oral hygiene;
• excess carbohydrates in the baby’s diet. Wherein great importance It is not so much the amount of carbohydrates as the frequency of consumption. This factor is a fairly common cause of caries. Carbohydrates are the main source of nutrition for pathogenic bacteria in the mouth;
• lack of minerals and vitamins.

The stages of development of temporary dental caries are no different from caries permanent teeth. The initial stage, superficial, middle and deep, are also distinguished here.

Symptoms are the same as in adults:

• first, small chalky spots form on the enamel;
• Over time, they acquire a dark color and increase in size;
• pain is also associated with irritating factors;
• the depth of the collapsing cavity gradually increases.

The only difference between the pathology of baby teeth is that the peculiarity of their structure allows caries covers several teeth at once, developing on them with equal intensity.

If this pathology is detected, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible. Now there are many methods for restoring enamel and temporary tooth crowns.

The most common are:

• remineralization;
• silvering;
• filling.

Prevention

Photo: fissure sealing

As you know, preventing the development of this pathology is much easier than treating it.. In order to avoid caries, you must always adhere to certain rules:

• Teach your child to brush their teeth properly. Always monitor this process yourself;
• visit the dentist at least twice a year;
• seal fissures using the latest technologies;
• balance your diet by introducing foods rich in microelements and vitamins;
• minimize the consumption of sweets;
• adjust fluoride intake;
• conduct professional training in a timely manner hygienic cleaning oral cavity;

Caries is a very serious and even dangerous disease which can lead to complete loss of teeth. Statistics show that over the years, the number of people with this pathology, is only increasing.

If the opportunity to avoid caries is minimal, then you need to try to rid yourself of at least the negative consequences.

Almost everyone has heard about caries modern people. It causes many problems and often requires difficult and expensive treatment. Quite often this attack leads to tooth loss. In addition, untreated caries leads to severe pain, which can deprive a person of his ability to work. What kind of illness is this and how do you get rid of it?

What is caries and why does it appear?

Caries is a dental disease, which is a pathological process that leads over time to demineralization of the enamel and its destruction. This is how a carious cavity or hole is formed. Tooth decay is usually accompanied by hypersensitivity, and in advanced cases – severe pain.

According to some data, caries is the most common disease on Earth, as it affects approximately 97% of its population.

There are different types of caries according to its location:

• Fissure - located in the pits and grooves on chewing surface molars;
• Cervical - localized at the junction of the neck of the tooth and the root;
• Hidden can develop in dentin, hiding under a layer of practically undamaged enamel. Such hardness of the tooth surface is due to frequent treatment with a paste with a high fluoride content or a violation metabolic processes inside the tooth. Most often, this type of disease occurs in young people;
• Root occurs in older people with gum recession;
• Caries of primary teeth develops in children who abuse sweets when insufficient hygiene oral cavity.

General treatment algorithm (Video)

Caries can be cured only by methods of official dentistry. Unfortunately, most people's councils do not help and only lead to worsening of the problem. And in a dental office, they usually offer a standard treatment algorithm:

• Removal of plaque, which involves cleaning the diseased tooth and those located nearby using abrasive pastes and a special attachment on the drill.
• Determination of tooth color using a special scale, which is necessary for selecting a suitable filling material.
• Anesthesia is used for moderate and deep caries for more comfortable removal of affected tissue. Typically used local anesthesia, which lasts from half an hour to several hours.
• Drilling or removing destroyed tissue.
• Isolating a tooth or protecting it from saliva using a rubber dam, a thin latex fabric in which holes are made for the teeth.
• Treatment of carious cavity using antiseptics.
• Application of a special insulating gasket under the filling, made of glass ionomer cement.
• Filling or applying special materials into the tooth cavity and processing them to harden.
• Grinding and polishing of the filling to give the tooth a smooth and aesthetic appearance.

Treatment of caries depending on its stage

Although the dental treatment algorithm is standard, depending on the stage of caries and the complexity of the situation, the list necessary operations may change . If the disease is in the staining stage, then there is no need to drill the tooth. The reason for the appearance of such a defect is the leaching of calcium from the enamel, so it can be cured with the help of remineralization therapy.

In men, caries occurs almost half as often as in women; this is usually associated with the fact that pregnancy and breast-feeding lead to large losses of calcium by the body, which negatively affects the quality of tooth enamel.

Carrying out such treatment involves cleaning the tooth from plaque and stone, and polishing its surface. Then the affected areas are treated with drugs based on fluoride and calcium ions. After this, the patient is recommended to take proper and thorough dental care and a new examination no later than two months later. If you listen to the doctor’s recommendations and follow them, the tooth can be completely restored. If the stain has already darkened, the destroyed tissue will have to be removed by drilling and the resulting void filled with filling material.

Eskimos and representatives of the Gunzu tribe, which lives in the southern Pamirs, never suffer from caries; scientists have not yet been able to unravel the reasons for this phenomenon.

When treating deep caries, the number of stages can be increased. Sometimes, when the dentin is almost destroyed, it is necessary to carry out therapy in several stages. First, a temporary filling is installed and after 3-4 days, if there is no pain, it is replaced with a permanent one. With particularly severe damage, the pathological process can also affect the nerve, so sometimes it has to be removed.

How to behave after treatment

After treatment, it is very important to listen to all the dentist’s recommendations.. If you are told not to eat or drink anything for several hours, then that’s what you should do. In addition, for the first time after installing the filling, it is advisable not to use any coloring products, as this may change its color.

Brushing your teeth is the key to their health

If, after placing a temporary filling, the tooth continues to hurt, you can take painkillers, but be sure to inform your doctor about this. You can also do this after staging permanent filling. If the pain is too severe or does not go away within two days, you should contact your dentist again. It is possible that mistakes were made during treatment and the sooner you visit the doctor, the easier it will be to eliminate them.

Prevention of caries

Prevention of this disease is important both for those who have never had caries and for those who have only recently gotten rid of it. To avoid dental problems, it is important to follow eight simple tips:

• Twice a day, teeth should be brushed thoroughly and thoroughly, for at least 2-3 minutes, cleaning the gums and tongue.
• After every meal, even a minimal snack, you need to rinse your mouth with water or chew gum, but no longer than 10 minutes.
• We must not forget about dental floss and toothpicks, they will help get rid of food debris that lingers between the teeth. But they must be used very carefully so as not to accidentally injure the gums.
• You always have to choose toothbrush and paste, based on the condition of your teeth and gums. If you can’t decide, it’s better to consult your dentist, as the wrong choice can lead to damage to your gums and enamel.
• Do not allow the mucous membranes of the mouth to dry out. Saliva is one of the factors that protect teeth, and its lack can trigger the development of caries.
• If your area lacks natural fluorine in the water, you need to add it using special filters, adjust your diet and use pastes enriched with this element.
• Avoid eating too cold or hot foods, as this can lead to microcracks in the enamel.
• Visit your dentist once every six months, he will be able to identify dental caries. early stage and prevent tooth decay.

Caries is a pathological process that manifests itself after teething, during which demineralization and softening of hard tissues occurs, followed by the formation of a cavity.

Caries in Latin means decay, and this word quite accurately describes the condition of teeth with this disease. It occurs, with greater or lesser frequency, in all regions, among all segments of the population and age categories.

At first glance, caries is a harmless disease, but it is the most big problem, which dentistry has encountered. According to statistics, more than 95% of people suffer from the disease at one stage or another.

In this material we will look at a common disease - caries, what it is, its initial symptoms with photos, as well as causes, treatment and preventive measures that will help avoid this problem.

Causes of dental caries

The fundamental cause of dental caries is considered to be a local change in acidity on the tooth surface under plaque (or tartar) due to the formation of organic acids during the glycolysis of carbohydrates by microorganisms.

Predisposing factors that contribute to the onset of dental problems:

• unsatisfactory hygienic condition of the oral cavity;
• irregular visits to the dentist;
• weak body immunity;
• foods rich in sugar and simple carbohydrates;
• low calcium, fluorine and phosphorus content in drinking water;
• hereditary predisposition;
• dentures or braces that injure tooth enamel and complicate hygiene procedures;
• influence common diseases organism (for example, diseases gastrointestinal tract. The disease can also be provoked by scurvy, rickets, exudative diathesis,.

In general, the main cause of tooth decay is insufficient oral care, the use of bad toothpastes, and neglect of dentists. In this regard, it is worth taking care of caries prevention in advance, since treating this problem is clearly more difficult and expensive.

Symptoms and stages

Caries, as a progressive disease, has several stages of its development. Let's briefly look at the main stages:

1. Spot stage. Upon examination, a white or dark spot is found on the surface of the tooth. At this stage, a person usually does not experience any discomfort.
2. Superficial. If untreated, a carious stain develops into enamel caries, and the hard shell of the tooth is destroyed. At this stage, a depression or cavity can already be discerned on the surface of the enamel, and sensitivity to cold or hot appears.
3. Average . Patients with this type of caries complain of pain from temperature, chemical and mechanical stimuli, when eliminated, the discomfort goes away very quickly. The middle type is characterized by the appearance of a cavity, but affects only the superficial layers of dentin.
4. Deep. It develops when, as a result of lack of treatment, the pathological process penetrates into the peripulpal dentin. The carious cavity is filled with softened dentin, it becomes larger, touching it causes noticeable pain. Continued degradation of dentin leads to damage to the dental pulp, as a result of which it occurs, and in the near future.

The process of staining on teeth occurs slowly, so it is visually easy for an adult to notice, and in order to get rid of caries at the initial stage, you should immediately make an appointment with a dentist.

Cervical or root caries is the most dangerous type of caries, which occurs on the tooth in the area where it comes into contact with the gum and directly under it at the root zone of the tooth.

The disease begins with darkening of the tooth enamel, the appearance in the cervical area of ​​a small dark spot that increases in size over time. Final symptom cervical caries- formation of a hole, the so-called “hollow” in the tooth.

The bottle type affects the cervical areas of the upper incisors and canines and goes through several stages: the stage of demineralization, destruction of enamel, destruction of the enamel-dentin junction, deep damage to the hard tissues of the tooth. Mainly found in young children.

The first sign of this disease is the appearance of light white spots that are located on the front teeth. Contacting a dentist at this stage guarantees complete cure special remineralizing gels without damaging the integrity of the teeth and unpleasant manipulations.

The most difficult to treat and dangerous in terms of its complications is root lesions of the teeth. This form of the disease develops in the root region. The cause of this type of caries is anatomical features this zone.

The main symptom of the onset of root damage to a tooth is the appearance of sharp, but short-term painful sensations when touching the causative tooth. You can also note darkening of the enamel, a change in its integrity, and the appearance of bad breath.

Caries in children

The disease can appear in a child during early age, when all the milk teeth have not yet had time to form and take their place. And even then the teeth need treatment. Otherwise, childhood caries can “grow” into adult caries, damaging permanent tooth even before it arose.

For minor damage baby tooth A procedure is carried out to silver the enamel, and if there is significant damage to its tissues, a filling is performed. A feature of the treatment of childhood caries is psychological factor: It is important for the dentist to reassure the child and instill confidence in him, and, having overcome his fear, carry out treatment within 30 minutes.

Treatment of caries

First of all, the treatment of dental caries depends on the form and stage of the disease.

1. In the initial stage, caries is treated using remineralizing therapy (application) with preliminary cleaning of the tooth from plaque. The procedure is repeated until the stain disappears.
2. Treatment of superficial caries, in most cases, does not require preparation or filling. It is enough to grind the surface of the enamel in the affected area and carry out remineralizing therapy as in the initial form.
3. If caries has reached the middle stage, then healing procedures consist of removing the affected area of ​​the tooth. After this, processing is carried out medicines and installation of a seal.
4. In case of deep caries, it is sometimes advisable to depulpate the tooth, that is, remove the nerve. Severely damaged teeth are covered with a crown.

Modern dentistry uses various anesthetics, sedatives, allowing the patient to painlessly undergo the caries treatment procedure. Therefore, you should not be afraid of the dentist, because treating advanced stages will be much more difficult.

How to treat caries at home

If caries treatment is not carried out on time, then it can acquire more severe form, for example, turn into periodontitis or pulpitis, followed by tooth loss.

Therefore, if the process of tooth decay has already begun, then it is not possible to cure caries at home. All home treatment comes down to eliminating the unpleasant manifestations of the disease.

If you are at home and have a toothache and swelling of your face or jaw:

1. Apply ice to the outside of your cheek (never use a hot heating pad).
2. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen.
3. Aspirin also relieves swelling, but has some contraindications. It should not be taken by pregnant women, people with bleeding gums and people under 20 years of age.

It is important to understand that if tooth decay has begun, it will not heal on its own and will only progress, while folk remedies will also not help get rid of caries.

Prevention of caries

You should also remember that you need to brush your teeth twice every day: in the morning, after eating, and in the evening, before going to bed. The process itself should take at least 4 minutes. The brush must be circular movements, or do it so that the movements go from the gum to the edge of the tooth.

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Tooth decay by caries is a pathological disease that develops in hard tissues. Doctors claim that the disease (at different stages) occupies a leading position among pathologies in dentistry. The development of dental caries occurs gradually, begins without pain with small spots, and ends with tooth loss. It is not difficult to detect the disease; the symptoms of dental caries are quite obvious. Why does the disease occur? How many methods are there to combat the disease, what to do with the affected areas and is it painful to be treated? Let's look further.

Caries - what is it?

The most common oral disease is caries. It affects more than half of the world's population. Emergence and development pathological process leads to damage to the enamel. Untimely treatment of caries completely destroys hard tissues. For greater clarity, pay attention to the photo of the affected teeth in comparison with healthy ones.

Signs of caries are as follows:

• appearance dark spots on enamel;
• discomfort in destroyed areas;
• formation of "holes".

The etiology of the disease is quite complex. There are a number of other signs, including: pain in the gums and cheeks, discomfort when chewing, or eating hot or cold food. If you ignore the symptoms and start the process of spots developing, the following will happen:

• the diameter of the darkening that appears will increase;
• superficial damage will penetrate deep into dentin;
• further development of the pathological process will provoke the appearance of a “hole”.

Caries on the front teeth causes particular discomfort (the incisor hurts, acutely “reacting” to temperature changes), and also creates significant aesthetic inconvenience (see photo of caries above). Thanks to modern methods treatment to stop the disease and carious changes, returning healthy smile, possible in one go.

Signs with photos and symptoms of the disease

How quickly caries develops is primarily due to the reasons that caused it - we will talk about the most typical of them below. Now let's deal with characteristic features diseases. Carious cavities manifest themselves in different ways, which directly depends on the degree of damage. The first stage of enamel darkening has a delayed hidden reaction. Tooth sensitivity may increase when eating the following foods:

• very hot food;
• cold snacks, drinks, etc.;
• salty foods.

Increased sensitivity is observed periodically, especially aggravated after white spot on the enamel it gradually turns brown. initial stage lesions are characterized by the following symptoms:

• chemical irritants lead to pain, but immediately after the pathogen has been eliminated, this factor goes away;
• when the dental neck is affected, pain occurs at the site of pressure when eating solid food.

The middle stage of caries disease has the following additional symptoms:

Deep caries is characterized by aggravation of previously diagnosed signs:

• any irritant provokes pain;
• carious cavities are large and dark.

When the first symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor so as not to cause harm or trigger the disease. It is important to recognize the development of caries in time and begin to treat it already at the “ white spot", when the basis of therapy can still be used medicinal remineralizing agents. If the process is started, caries treatment will already be invasive.

Types of carious lesions

Pathogenesis in dentistry is considered as the mechanism of the onset and progression of the disease. Typical reasons occurrence of caries in the oral cavity are:

• cariogenic microflora (including carbohydrates);
• violation of hygiene rules;
• reduced immunity.

Cariesogenic factors, which are based on a violation of the acid-base (chemical) balance and the development of pathogenic flora, primarily contribute to the destruction of enamel and dentin. Scientists call genetic predisposition a separate cariogenic factor.

Types of caries are classified depending on the degree of tooth damage, the depth of carious cavities, and their location. Stages of disease development with photo illustration:

• The initial stage is a superficial colorless lesion of the enamel, which is not diagnosed by the patient himself. The lateral part of the tooth surface is affected by fissure caries. The stage of manifestation of spots can be stopped if the spot is treated with topical medications and remineralizing agents.
• The pathogenesis of mid-level caries tends to spread to upper layer dentin. Such caries is dangerous due to the rapid destruction of the tooth. The doctor removes the affected area and fills the cavity.
• Deep dental caries in the process of its development causes destruction of the cavity to the level of dentin, which covers the pulp. Further infection and softening of the tissue occurs - urgent treatment is necessary, since the consequence of untreated caries can be the removal of the pulp and even the tooth itself.
• Atypical form. The cutting edge and tubercle are destroyed. It is treated using an invasive method with the installation of a filling. Complications from this caries are tooth destruction from top to bottom to the deep stage.

Severe advanced caries is difficult to cure. The progressive process inevitably leads to complications: pulpitis, periodontitis, etc.

Dentists also distinguish the following types of caries:

• multiple or systemic;
• root;
• cervical (most often affects the front teeth near the gums) (we recommend reading: photos of the front teeth before and after caries treatment);
• recurrent - occurs under a filling due to serious cariogenic factors.

Causes of caries formation in adults

What causes tooth decay? Streptococci are one of the types of dental microbes present in organic acids, destroying dentin and enamel.

The appearance and proliferation of bacteria begins during the development of pathological biochemical processes - when normal flora in the mouth pathogenic microbes No. The formation of a carious cavity is promoted by:

• poor nutrition and hygiene (carbohydrates and acids are formed due to the remains of rotting food);
• somatic diseases associated with the gastrointestinal tract;
• reduced levels of calcium, fluoride and vitamins in the body (pregnancy, chronic diseases, flaw good nutrition, radiation therapy and etc.);
• tartar (hard plaque);
• genetic predisposition.

Treatment - conservative and with removal of carious cavities

Dentists identify two main ways to eliminate the problem:

1. Non-invasive – treatment of superficial dental caries occurs conservatively, i.e. without drilling. This option is referred to modern type treatment.
2. Invasive - treatment by cleaning out the lesions. Before drilling, a detailed examination, medicinal treatment of the carious cavity, removal of the affected areas, and filling are carried out.

How to stop caries? In order to cure caries at the white spot stage, it is enough to saturate the teeth with fluoride and calcium, i.e. remineralize the enamel.

It is possible to cure moderate and deep disease with the help of medicinal treatment of a carious cavity, followed by filling it. The standard stages of caries treatment are as follows:

1. removal of the affected part of the tooth;
2. restoration of the cavity by filling (the deep stage of the lesion is treated by installing two fillings - temporary and permanent).

Therapy methods in dentistry

Treatment of caries is almost painless. At the initial stage - the stage of the appearance of the stain - treatment of caries in adults and children is carried out without touching the dentin and pulp. Only the top layer of enamel is removed, so the procedure takes place without any discomfort.

The disease at a more serious stage, especially advanced carious lesions of dentin and its expansion inside the tooth, requires treatment of the oral cavity, removal of softened areas using a drill and subsequent installation of a filling.

Is it painful to treat?

The question of whether it is painful to treat caries is of interest to most patients. Treatment in dentistry is carried out at all stages of caries quickly and painlessly. At the first stage, after sanitation of the oral cavity, medicinal treatment is performed. Invasive removal of internal caries is carried out under anesthesia and does not cause discomfort. It is recommended to deal with the problem at the initial stage, then recovery will be quick and painless.

Consequences and complications of untimely treatment of caries

Deep caries is an advanced stage of dental damage, which is the last and requires urgent and high-quality treatment. In case of improper care, the carious cavity turns into pulpitis, characterized by strong painful sensations. You can avoid the consequences by timely contacting the clinic to remove the pulp.

Recurrence may occur if carious cavities form between the filling and healthy teeth. A photo of this type of caries can be seen below.

Removal of the filling, medicinal treatment and its replacement - new therapeutic method treatment and combating the consequences of complications.

Preventive measures - how to stop the carious process?

After treatment, patients wonder how to prevent caries from occurring in the future. You can avoid the problem by following simple rules:

• take care of and monitor the cleanliness of the oral cavity (the main cause of pathology is the formation of plaque due to food debris);
• maintain a healthy diet (include foods high in microelements and vitamins in the menu);
• visiting a dentist once every six months is a chance that will allow you to diagnose pathology at an early stage and avoid a deep stage that is difficult to treat.

Vaccination against caries formation

There is no vaccine against carious teeth yet. However, some laboratories are conducting research and exchanging experience in this matter.

The human immune system is already “trained” with antibodies that destroy viruses and bacteria. For example, immunoglobulin found in saliva prevents pathogenic microorganisms from reaching the “right target.” Therefore, we repeat, today vaccination against carious lesions is nothing more than an invention of science fiction writers.

Protection products for every day

To effectively protect oral cavity against caries, it is recommended to use pastes with calcium and fluoride. Such compositions are excluded when there are contraindications (for example, a high fluoride content in the water or fluorosis diagnosed in the patient). Purchasing expensive pastes is not necessary. The main thing is that active enzymes and the base filler help destroy plaque and food debris.

Additional oral care products include rinses and flosses that clean the interdental spaces. Special scrapers and brushes are useful for treating the tongue. However, the listed means are not able to stop the already existing destructive process.

Sometimes bacteria are transmitted through a kiss, in which case it is recommended to use chewing gum sugarless. The main thing is not to overdo it - you will not achieve strengthening of the enamel with chewing gum, but if you use it excessively, you can contribute to wear and abrasion of the tooth enamel.