TOOTH DECAY is also known as CARIES or CAVITIES occurs when the bacteria living in your mouth produce acid that begins to eat away at your teeth. Dental caries is a major public health problem globally and is the most widespread non communicable disease. In low income countries, the majority of dental caries goes untreated.

Teeth affected by caries are often pulled out when they cause pain or discomfort. Severe dental caries can affect quality of life. For example, dental caries may cause difficulty in sleeping and in it advanced stages (abscesses) may result in pain and chronic systemic infection. CAVITIES can affect anyone who have teeth.

The early manifestation of caries process is a small patch of demineralised (softened) enamel at the tooth surface, often hidden from sight in the fissures (grooves) of teeth. The destruction spreads into the softer, sensitive part of the tooth beneath the enamel collapses to form a cavity and the tooth is progressively destroyed. Caries can also attack the root of the teeth should it become exposed by gum recession that is more common in older adults.

For more information on this post and TREATMENTS go to:
https://rainbownigeria.com/2020/10/10/tooth-decay-treatment/