Good dental hygiene is important to keep teeth whole and healthy. The idea is to prevent dental caries. Caries is a disease that leads to tooth decay and cavities. That is simple enough to say, but what are caries, tooth decay, and cavities? What do they do to your teeth, and how are they prevented? Here is a look at what they are and how they are related.
What Is Caries
Caries is a disease process. It occurs when bacteria in the mouth feed on sugar in the food you eat and produce acids that leach minerals from your teeth. As the mineral levels in the tooth decrease, a white patch appears where the tooth enamel is getting weaker. This is the beginning of tooth decay. At this point, the damage might be reversible with fluoride. Continue reading The Differences in Cavities, Decay & Caries