Tooth decay

Tooth decay is the progressive breakdown of enamel and deeper tooth tissues, usually when acids produced by oral bacteria dissolve minerals faster than saliva can replace them.

Dental plaque: A structured microbial biofilm that forms on tooth surfaces and can retain acids near enamel. Plaque holds acid-producing bacteria against enamel after they metabolize fermentable carbohydrates.
Fluoride therapy: The use of fluoride to reduce tooth demineralization and promote formation of more acid-resistant enamel mineral. Fluoride helps enamel resist acids and supports repair of early lesions.
Tooth enamel: The hard, highly mineralized outer covering of a tooth’s crown. Enamel is the first tissue attacked by decay-producing acids.
Dental erosion: The chemical loss of tooth tissue caused by acids not produced by oral bacteria. Erosion also involves acid damage, but its acids come from non-bacterial sources.
Toothache: Pain arising from a tooth or surrounding tissues, often due to inflammation or damage. Decay can cause toothache when it approaches sensitive dentin or inflames the pulp.
Dental caries: A disease process in which acids from dental biofilm cause localized loss of tooth mineral. This clinical term describes the disease process that produces tooth decay.
Dental sealant: A thin protective coating placed on tooth grooves to block food and bacteria from collecting there. Sealants protect cavity-prone chewing surfaces from plaque and acid exposure.
Dentin: The calcified tissue beneath enamel that forms most of a tooth’s structure. Once decay passes through enamel, it can spread more rapidly through dentin.
Dental abrasion: The mechanical wearing of tooth tissue by external forces, such as abrasive brushing. Abrasion removes tooth structure mechanically rather than through bacterial acid.
Pulpitis: Inflammation of the dental pulp, often caused by bacterial infection or injury. Bacteria advancing through decay can inflame the pulp inside the tooth.

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