What is the cause of dental caries?

Experts say: dental caries is that we often talk about tooth decay, or insect teeth, are generally caused by infection, such as infection of bacteria, etc., of course, the incidence of oral health and also have a direct relationship between people who eat sugar The odds of dental caries are very large, mainly because of the sticking of sugar on the tooth surface.

       1, bacteria
       Bacteria is a necessary condition for the occurrence of caries, it is generally believed that there are two types of caries, one is the acid bacteria, mainly Streptococcus mutans, actinomycetes and Lactobacillus, carbohydrate decomposition can produce acid, Leading to tooth mineralization of inorganic matter; the other is the Gram-positive cocci, can damage the organic matter, after a long period of time can cause dental cavities. Currently recognized the main cariogenic bacteria is Streptococcus mutans, the other also includes actinomycetes, Lactobacillus and so on.
       Bacteria are mainly attached to the tooth surface with plaque. Stopped food in the carbohydrate degradation, on the one hand polymerization to produce highly viscous dextran, the formation of plaque matrix, on the other hand acid bleaching teeth, plaque composition is more complex, in addition to a large number of bacteria, Sugar, protein, enzymes and other substances.
       2, oral environment
       Oral cavity is the outer environment of the teeth, and the occurrence of caries is closely related to, which play a leading role in food and saliva.
       (1) food is mainly carbohydrates, both with the formation of plaque matrix, but also plaque bacteria in the main energy, bacteria can use carbohydrates (especially sucrose) metabolism of acid, and synthesis of extracellular polysaccharides and intracellular polysaccharide , The organic acid produced is conducive to the growth of acid and acid bacteria, but also conducive to the hardening of the hard tissue of the teeth, polysaccharides can promote the adhesion and accumulation of bacteria in the tooth surface, and in the absence of exogenous sugar, to provide energy source. Therefore, carbohydrates are the basis of the caries disease.
       (2) saliva in the normal circumstances, the saliva has the following effects:
       Mechanical cleaning to reduce the accumulation of bacteria.
       Antibacterial effect of direct inhibition or inhibition of plaque attached to the tooth surface.
       Antacid effect by the heavy bicarbonate and other substances from the role of neutralization.
       Anti-dissolving effect through the calcium, phosphorus, fluoride and other teeth to enhance acid resistance, reduce the solubility.
       3, the host
       The tooth is the target organ in the process of caries. The shape of the tooth, the degree of mineralization and the structure of the tooth are directly related to the occurrence of caries, such as the fissure of the tooth and the teeth with poor mineralization, and the degree of mineralization The structure of the teeth and the body are closely related, especially in the development, not only affect the development and structure of the teeth, but also on the saliva flow, the amount of fluoride, Flow rate and its composition also has a great impact, and therefore an important part of the occurrence of caries.
       4, time
       Caries disease has a long process, from the initial caries to the clinical formation of cavities generally need 1.5 to 2 years, so even if the cariogenic bacteria, the appropriate environment and susceptible host coexistence, dental caries will not occur immediately, Only the above three factors exist for a long time, it may produce caries, so the time factor in the occurrence of dental caries is of great significance.
       Saliva is also a major factor leading to dental caries, under normal circumstances, saliva cleaning bacteria, antibacterial effect, it can be said that saliva under normal circumstances, will play a role in the protection of teeth. But when the amount of saliva, and the quality of change, there is the risk of dental caries or other dental diseases.