What is the cause of dental caries?

Another name is tooth decay, is usually caused by bacterial infection, in life we know that regular consumption of foods which contain sugar will decay, in fact, mainly refers to the sugar food stuck in the teeth, causing infection in the bacterial invasion and the formation of dental caries, the etiology of dental caries were introduced:
1, bacteria
The bacteria is a necessary condition for dental caries, generally there are two types of cariogenic bacteria, is a genus of acid producing bacteria, including Streptococcus mutans, Actinomyces and Lactobacillus, can make the decomposition of carbohydrates to produce acid, inorganic lead to tooth demineralization; the other is a gram positive cocci, can destroy organic matter, after long-term effect can make the tooth formation of cavity. At present, the main cariogenic bacteria are Streptococcus mutans, others include actinomyces, Lactobacillus and so on.
Bacteria adhere mainly to the surface of the tooth with plaque. Oral retention of carbohydrates were degraded after a polymerization to produce high viscous dextran, forming plaque matrix, on the other hand, the acid production of tooth demineralization, plaque composition is more complex, in addition to a large number of bacteria, and sugar, protein, enzyme and other substances.
2, oral environment
The oral cavity is the external environment of the teeth, which is closely related to the occurrence of caries, and the main functions are the food and saliva. The food is mainly carbohydrates, is associated with the formation of plaque matrix, is also the main energy bacteria in plaque, bacteria can use carbohydrates (sucrose) and acid metabolism, synthesis of extracellular polysaccharide and intracellular polysaccharide, organic acid produced was beneficial to the production of acid and acid resistant bacteria, also is conducive to demineralization of dental hard tissue, the polysaccharide of bacteria in adhesion and promote the accumulation of the tooth surface, and the exogenous sugar deficiency, provide a source of energy. Carbohydrates are therefore the material basis for dental caries.
3 host
The tooth is a target organ in the process of dental caries, there is a direct relationship between the degree of mineralization and the morphology, structure and caries, such as dental fissure and mineralized teeth caries bad easily, and the degree of mineralization is better, the appropriate amount of tissue containing fluoride dental caries resistance is strong; on the other hand, there is a close relationship between the structure and the body of the teeth, especially in the development, development and structure not only affects the teeth, but also has great influence on the flow and the flow rate of saliva and its composition, which is also an important part in the occurrence of dental caries.

4, time
The incidence of dental caries is a long process, the formation of cavity usually takes 1.5-2 years from early caries to clinical, so even if the cariogenic bacteria, suitable environment and susceptible to caries exist at the same time, also will not happen immediately, only these three factors also exist for a long time, can cause caries, so the time factor has important significance in the occurrence of dental caries.
Can say, the cause of dental caries, and is actually a bacterial infection caused by, rather than eating sugary food and lead, in addition, saliva actually has a protective effect on oral cavity, can kill bacteria, as well as a large number of breeding bacteria, but if it exceeds a certain limit, naturally lose their effect.