Dental caries

Dental caries

Dental caries or tooth decay causes the gradual softening of enamel and dentine. It begins when bacteria acting on sugars produce acids that soften or demineralises the enamel.
Masses of bacterial cells together with food particles stick to the teeth to form dental plaque. Saliva cannot reach the tooth surface to neutralise the acid as plaque covers the teeth. Brushing the teeth after eating removes the plaque before the bacteria produce acids. If untreated, microorganisms may invade the pulp, causing inflammation and infection.