Dental Caries

A disease almost common to all of us who possess teeth, is dental caries, a dental entity that manifests itself in approximately 98% of the Peruvian population, which initially forms cavities in the tooth enamel (white or crown region), which if it is not treated later, it advances unfailingly towards deeper regions, that is the tissue of the dentin and later the pulp, which, in turn, because they have nerve endings, make us feel the pain and the temperature changes with great acuity.

Origin of Dental Caries

Individual diet: The food intake of a subject provides various nutrients for its normal development, among which we have carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins and minerals. It has been proven that the intake of refined carbohydrates (sugars, sweets, etc.) increases the possibility that the individual suffers from dental caries.

Bacteria: Various microorganisms have been found in the normal oral flora of the individual, among which we have Lactobacillus Acidophillus, a microorganism found in approximately 4% of non-carious dental surfaces and in 20% of carious lesions, as well as Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus mitis and salivaris, among others. The role of microorganisms is fundamental in the origin of caries.

Oral Hygiene: A regular or deficient hygiene definitely leads to the appearance of cavities. When there is food intake and waste is not removed from the surface of the teeth with brushing and flossing, a structure called bacterial plaque will inevitably form, which is nothing more than a film containing food debris, dead cells, bacteria and microorganisms among others.

Poor position of the teeth: A wrong dental position in the maxilla can lead to the formation of carious cavities simply because the patient can not exercise an effective hygienic action. Rotations, inclinations or incorrect dental positions allow food (especially fibrous) to be retained between the interdental spaces. As a result, the teeth suffer from the action of caries more easily. Dentistry has a quite effective solution for this problem and that is what a specialty deals with: Orthodontics, which diagnoses and treats the problem of bad dental positions, a specialty that is carried out mostly in children and young patients, although it is also performed in adults, not only to improve the dental position but also to give the patient a pleasant aesthetic.

Dynamics of Dental Caries

The individual normally has in the oral cavity a set of microorganisms that maintain the balance between health and disease. These microorganisms are part of the defense and integrity of the organs of the oral cavity. This set of microorganisms and / or bacteria is called oral flora. This oral flora can be altered in certain cases, as for example the indiscriminate use of antibiotics, which can “sweep” with microorganisms that are in the line of defense, to have disequilibrium can be manifested diseases in soft or hard tissues (teeth) . Also, this balance is generally altered when the individual ingests their food, especially carbohydrates in refined form, ie chocolates, cookies, sweets, etc., which are removed after meals produce acids (produced by the decomposition of food and bacteria), which are harmful to tooth enamel when oral hygiene is regular or deficient. These acids are formed very easily from the two hours after having ingested foods rich in carbohydrates and also with the help of bacterial elements present on healthy dental surfaces. If we add to this a weak dental structure, which by nature is more permeable than normal, we can expect the teeth to suffer from cavities. But if the individual has due care in oral hygiene (using the brush and floss) properly, the risk of contracting this disease will be significantly reduced, because on the one hand the food (culture medium) will be removed with the oral hygiene and the absence of food residues in decomposition, the production of acid will decrease drastically, and also less chance of healthy tooth enamel being affected.

The problem of dental caries can be controlled by the subject quite effectively. The individual can not be prohibited from eating, but it is possible to provide useful advice for their best dental care:
1. Try not to eat foods rich in refined carbohydrates, that is, sweets, cakes, candies, cookies, etc. If so, carry out oral hygiene procedures as soon as possible after ingestion.
2. Instill and instruct children about the importance and care of their teeth. Remember that they learn many things by imitating the tutors or parents.
3. Make proper use of the denture. Do not open bottles with them or grind hard foods (sweets, tennis court, etc.) because they can fracture the integrity of the tooth enamel, opening a possibility for the appearance of decay.
4. Make periodic visits to the dental office. Doing so provides us with the necessary information about the state of our teeth. A visit is recommended every six months, although you do not feel any discomfort.

With this information we can be sure that our teeth will be in good condition and will be useful for a long time without the need to use prostheses or adjuvants for chewing.