Dental

What do you know about your teeth?

The Caries Balance

Pathological Factors = Caries

Acid-producing bacteria

Frequently eating/drinking of fermentable carbohydrates

Subnormal saliva flow and/or function

Protective Factors = No Cares

Saliva flow & components Fluoride, calcium, phosphate Antibacterials: chlorhexidine,

iodine, xylitol

The balance can be used to assess the risk of developing caries in the future, or why you have caries now. The balance between demineralization & remineralization is the KEY to progression or reversal of dental caries at any time.

Children & Dental Decay

Survey done on 5,000 children in 1997 found active untreated decay present:

6% of 1 year olds 22% of 2 year olds 35% of 3 year olds 48% of 4 year olds

Bacteria that causes tooth decay…

Streptococcus mutans – primarily implicated in dental decay

Streptococcus mutans found in mouth?

Primarily in surfaces of teeth One tooth could have many while

the next tooth has very little Often not spread evenly

throughout your mouth Bacteria is present in highest

concentrations in the crevices, pits and fissures of anatomy of teeth

What factors contain sugars that feed the Streptococcus mutans?

All carbohydrates Mainly sugars Sucrose = candies, cookies, soda Starches = white bread, potato

chips, pretzels & other processed snacks